Dolly Parton's sister asks fans to pray for the singer as she faces ‘health challenges’

Freida Parton, sister of iconic country legend Dolly Parton, has asked fans for “prayers” as the singer continues to face “health challenges”. 

Freida wrote on social media: “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 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!” 

Last week, Dolly Parton, 79, postponed her Las Vegas residency until September 2026, telling her fans that she’s been facing “health challenges”.

She was scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas" between 4 and 13 December.

The ‘9 to 5’ singer did not go into further detail regarding her medical issues but did share that she was “not going to be able to rehearse” for the shows. She did however joke 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!” 

Check out her comments below.  

It has been a tough year for Dolly Parton.  

In March, her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, died aged 82. Following his death, the country music legend said that she had put writing new songs “on hold” to cope with the loss. She did, however, release the moving single ‘If You Hadn’t Been There’ - a tribute song to her late husband, who inspired her timeless hit ‘Jolene’.  

In August, as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, Guinness World Records honoured Dolly as one of their icons.

The company – which lists world record achievements – gave her an Icon certificate, presented to her at her studios in Nashville, Tennessee, celebrating the fact that she holds 11 record-breaking titles. 

These include most consecutive decades with top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart, most studio albums released by a female country singer, and most Grammy nominations for a female country artist. 

Parton was also the first country singer to be nominated for the EGOT – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – aka the “Grand Slam of showbusiness”.

Craig Glenday, editor in chief at Guinness World Records, said: “Dolly is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated writers and performers in the history of country music, as reflected in her many Guinness World Records certificates, but her reach and influence extends far beyond the musical world.”  

Indeed, Parton’s charitable and philanthropic work includes the Dollywood Foundation, founded in 1988. The institution champions the education of children in her home state of Tennessee. As for her literacy initiative, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, it has distributed more than 285 million books globally since 1995.