Dolly Parton’s sister is clearing the air on the country music star’s health.
On Tuesday, Freida Parton shared a statement on Facebook and asked fans to pray for Dolly, 79, who recently postponed her Las Vegas residency dates due to health issues.
But in a follow-up statement, Freida clarified the extent of Dolly’s illness and why she shared her initial message.
Dolly Parton speaks onstage at Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere in Nashville in March 2025. Getty Images
Freida Parton. smokymountaindna/Instagram“I want to clear something up,” Freida wrote. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly.”
“She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer,” Freida continued. “It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.”
Stella Parton, Freida Parton and Dolly Parton at Bearsville Sound Studio in upstate New York in 1981. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Freida Parton’s statement about Dolly Parton. Frieda Parton/FacebookDolly’s rep Olly Rowland gave an update on the singer’s health on Tuesday.
“It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those. It looks like her sister posted and it got quite a bit blown out of proportion, weirdly,” the rep told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Post has reached out to Dolly’s rep for comment.
Dolly Parton on “Today” in November 2019. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesIn her first Facebook statement, Freida said that she was “up all night praying” for the “9 to 5” singer.
“Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately,” Freida wrote. “I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been [led] to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me. She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine.”
Freida Parton. Facebook/Freida Parton“Godspeed, my sissy Dolly,” Freida ended her post. “We all love you!”
Last month, Dolly announced she was postponing her six upcoming shows in Las Vegas from December of this year to September 2026 so she can focus on her health.
Dolly Parton performs at an NFL game in Texas in November 2023. Getty Images“As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” the “Jolene” singer explained.”As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”
“In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see,” she continued. “You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.”
Dolly Parton at the 53rd annual CMA Awards. ABC via Getty ImagesParton also told her fans not to “worry about me quittin’” because “God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”
Before postponing her Vegas shows, Parton skipped a Dollywood event in September due to painful kidney stones. She told fans in a pre-recorded video message that she was under her doctor’s orders not to travel.
Dolly Parton at a press conference in London in June 2023. PA Images via Getty Images“Turns out there was an infection,” she said. “And the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling around this minute … You need a few days to feel better.’ So he suggested I not go to Dollywood today.”



