Dolly Parton Makes First Major Appearance in Months After Health Concerns: ‘I Needed to Build Myself Back Up’

'Spiritually, Emotionally' Dolly Parton Makes First Major Appearance in Months After Health Concerns: ‘I Needed to Build Myself Back Up’ The country legend assured fans she was "back to normal" after postponing her Las Vegas residency in September due to health challenges By Charisma Madarang Charisma Madarang Contact Charisma Madarang on X Contact Charisma Madarang by Email View all posts by Charisma Madarang March 13, 2026 Dolly Parton made her first major in-person appearance on Friday, sporting her signature blonde bouffant and a big smile on her face. When taking the stage at Dollywood in Tennessee to celebrate the theme park’s 41st season, the country icon said, “I’ve been doing a whole lot of things. I have been not touring, as you know, I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.” Parton postponed her Las Vegas concerts toward the end of 2025 to undergo unspecified procedures to address health concerns. The postponements arrived months after the death of her husband, Carl Dean, at the age of 82 . The couple had been married for nearly six decades and Parton lovingly praised him during interviews throughout her career. “I just kind of got wore down and wore out, grieving over Carl and lot of other little things going on,” continued Parton. “I needed to build myself back up, spiritually, emotionally and physically. But all is good. It didn’t slow me down,” she said, before momentarily becoming distracted by a stray hair and joking, “I’m back to normal.” When speaking about Dean, Parton said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be married. I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me on the other side. And 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, and if the Lord wants him in, he’ll bring him. You get on in here with me!'” Trending Stories David Gilmour’s ‘Black Strat’ Sells for $14.55 Million, Becoming the Most Expensive Guitar Ever Sol...