Dolly Parton misses Dollywood opening, shares health update

Digital Curator

Dolly Parton missed the opening of a new ride at Dollywood on Friday. But the country music superstar appeared in a video during the event in which she celebrated the ride’s opening and provided an update on her health.

The event at her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was to dedicate the new “Nightflight Expedition” attraction, which Parton, in the video, said was supposed to open earlier this year but had been postponed. The “9 to 5” singer had been planning to attend Friday’s event in person.

In the video, which has been circulating on social media, Parton, who is 80 years old, was adorned with butterfly wings on her back. She apologized for being in Nashville instead of being at the park, and explained that she sometimes feels “a little dizzy” and that she sometimes gets dehydrated. She joked that her doctor “kind of clipped my wings” and advised her not to travel this week because she was experiencing dehydration.

“I guess if the doctor tells you, ‘You ain’t travelin’ this week,’ you ain’t travelin’ this week,” Parton joked.

Parton, who is also a successful businesswoman, expressed excitement for the attraction’s opening and said she didn’t want its opening to be delayed again on account of her being absent and having a health issue.

“I’ve had my butterfly wings flappin’ since May 15 when we were due to open the first time, and again in June. But I know we had to make sure this is the safest, since it is the biggest and the most expensive ride we have ever added to Dollywood. So we’re gonna open it today,” she said in the video, adding, “That’s why I’m here [in Nashville], because my little butterfly wings are getting kinda tired.”

Parton told the crowd that she felt it was necessary to record a video to keep her dedicated fans aware of her health.

“I like to keep all of you in the loop, like I said I would, on everything,” she said, adding that she’s continuing to work on other projects, including the Broadway musical, “DOLLY: A True Original Musical,” about her life and music, as well as the SongTeller Hotel and the Life of Many Colors Museum, which are both in Nashville.

In closing the video, Parton told fans that she will see them “down the road.”

This isn’t the first time the country music superstar has had to cancel or reschedule events or appearances due to her health.

Earlier this year, Parton canceled a residency in Las Vegas after previously rescheduling the shows because of “health challenges.”