Dolly Parton's Sister Addresses Frenzied Panic About The Star's Health
Dolly Parton’s sister walked back a social media post that sparked panic about the country icon’s health after she dramatically asked fans to pray for her.
The Facebook post, shared Tuesday by Freida Parton, quickly fueled speculation that the 78-year-old singer was seriously ill, with fans flooding the comments to offer support and demand updates. The reaction spread so widely that Freida later clarified she hadn’t meant Dolly’s life was in danger. (RELATED: ‘I Must Have A Few Procedures’: Dolly Parton Cancels Las Vegas Residency Amid Health Crisis)
Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,” Freida originally wrote. “Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead [sic] to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Dolly Parton attends We Are Family Foundation honors Dolly Parton & Jean Paul Gaultier at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
“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. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you! ❤️” Freida wrote in her first post.
The message sent fans into a frenzy, prompting Freida to issue a follow-up the next day to calm the speculation. In her Wednesday update, she reassured everyone that the country legend’s health was not in serious jeopardy.
“I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly,” she wrote.
Freida went on to explain that Dolly had only been “a little under the weather,” adding that her post was never meant to imply a medical emergency.
“It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister,” she wrote. “Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
Dolly has not publicly commented on her current health status. Her most recent message to fans mentioned that she would undergo “a few procedures” and would need time to recover, leading her to cancel several planned appearances.