Dolly Parton is opening up about how she’s been doing lately.
The country music icon, 80, shared that she’s focusing on taking care of herself after dealing with some health concerns and navigating life following the death of her longtime husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
Parton spoke candidly about her health and her grief while delivering a keynote speech on opening day of the season at Dollywood on Friday, March 13. This year marks the theme park’s 41st season since it first opened in Tennessee.
“I’ve not been touring, as you know,” Parton said, according to footage of the speech shared by WVLT 8. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.”
During the appearance, the beloved singer also reflected on her late husband with her signature humor.
“I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me,” she said. “If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He’d be saying, ‘Who’s that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.’ ”
Dean and Parton tied the knot back in 1966, though he famously kept a very low profile throughout their marriage. Unlike many celebrity spouses, Dean avoided the spotlight entirely and rarely appeared publicly with the country legend. Over the decades, Parton only shared a small handful of photos of him.
The singer had previously spoken about her health struggles while apologizing to fans for missing a Hall of Fame ceremony hosted by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions in November 2025, where Dollywood was being honored.
Around the same time, the Nashville superstar postponed her planned Las Vegas residency due to an unspecified illness in October 2025. A month earlier, in September 2025, Parton had mentioned she’d been dealing with kidney stones. She ultimately pushed the residency back by nearly a year so she could prioritize her health.
© Sam Hodde, Getty ImagesStill, those close to the “I Will Always Love You” singer say she’s been on the mend.
“Dolly is getting better every day,” a source close to Parton told People magazine in a November 2025 cover story about the star’s health.
“She is at home taking care of herself while many friends and family visit her,” the source added. “In true Dolly spirit she has already started decorating for the holidays — her favorite time of year.”
The country legend has also kept busy creatively, recently releasing her new book, Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, which reflects on her decades-long career in entertainment.
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