Country music icon Dolly Parton was forced to skip her big night for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame due to poor health, Fox News reported. The 79-year-old was set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, where she was to be honored for her Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dollywood vacation destination.
The theme park opened in 1961 but was taken over as a joint venture between Parton and her business partners, Jack and Peter Herschend, in 1986. It has been a mainstay in family recreation for decades, and Parton was to be recognized for her role in creating it.
On Wednesday, Parton shared a video message to apologize to fans and the IAAPA for her absence. She has missed others last month due to her declining health, but she assured the public that she's doing well, captioning the video "I ain't dead yet" in her post to Instagram.
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"Well, hey there, it's Dolly, and I sure wish I could be with you in person today, but you probably heard that I've been dealing with a few health challenges this fall. And my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while," Parton said in her signature drawl.
"And I'm truly sorry I can't be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say thank you for this incredible honor," she added. The "Jolene" singer went on to thank her business partners, the Herschend brothers, for their part in her success.
"I trust them, and they trust me, and they always listen when I come in with one of my big ideas and dreams. And somehow the amazing team at Dollywood finds a way to make those dreams come true," Parton said.
Parton similarly posted a video last month after canceling some appearances due to declining health. "Well, today's October the 8th, and obviously I'm here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I'm dressed kind of like a country western girl," Parton told fans in a separate Instagram post.
"But before I got started, I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I'm working hard here," she added.
Parton has not shared the exact nature of her health struggles, but it's clear that she's doing all she can to reassure fans. Perhaps that's partly because the popular theme park bearing her name turns 40 this year, and the celebrations have already begun.
"On a crisp March morning in 2025, as sunlight turns the Great Smoky Mountains gold, it’s easy to understand why TripAdvisor named Dollywood America’s #1 theme park for the third time in four years. What started as a small mountain attraction in 1961 has grown into a nationally beloved destination, yet it remains rooted in the authenticity and warmth Dolly Parton envisioned when she partnered with the Herschend family in 1986," the theme park's website said.
"Dollywood’s story is one of transformation, community, innovation, and heart. As the park celebrates its 40th anniversary, its legacy has never been stronger."
The popular theme park is just one piece of what makes Parton so beloved. She is an actress, singer, larger-than-life celebrity, and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame for iconic hits such as "I Will Always Love You," which became a chart topper for Whitney Houston, and "Coat of Many Colors" about her experience growing up poor in Appalachia.
Parton is fighting hard through her health battles with her usual candor, wit, and sunny outlook. She is a national treasure, and her fans are surely pulling for her during this difficult time.
