Dolly Parton‘s sister has clarified her call to fans for “prayers” for the country icon saying she “didn’t mean to scare anyone”.
Parton recently postponed her Las Vegas residency, telling fans that she’s been facing several “health challenges”. While the singer did not reveal the extent of her medical issues, she did share with fans that she was “not going to be able to rehearse” for the tour and wouldn’t be prepared for the shows.
Yesterday (October 7), her sister Freida wrote on social media, asking the singer’s fans to keep Dolly in their prayers.
“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. 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 wrote.
Freida continued: “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!”
Now in a new post on Facebook, she has clarified her original statement.
I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for…
Posted by Freida Parton on Tuesday, October 7, 2025
“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,” Freida wrote.
“She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.”
She added: “Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
A spokesperson for the singer also told CBS News (via BBC News), that she will be posting a message on social media later today (October 8) that “will address everyone’s concerns”.
BBC News also reported that the singer was recently forced to pull out of a Dollywood event after being diagnosed with a kidney stone that she said was causing “a lot of problems”.
She was due to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in December but she postponed the gigs until December 2026.
Writing about her health, Parton recently seemed in high spirits, telling fans that she had joked with her doctors that “it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”
She also went on to say that she will still be able to “work on mall of my projects from here in Nashville” and that she needs “a little time to get show ready”.
Parton went on to assure fans that she’s not planning on retiring yet: “Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
It has been a rough year for the Queen of Country; back in March, Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, died at the age of 82. Following his passing, the country music legend made her first public appearance since the death of her husband, and in June she said that she had put writing new songs “on hold” to cope with the loss.
In the weeks following Dean’s death, Parton said that she was “doing better than I thought I would”, and then released the poignant single ‘If You Hadn’t Been There’ in his honour – describing the significance he had in her life and his role in helping her become the person she is today.