Dolly Parton’s sister asks for prayers amid country legend’s ‘health challenges’

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Fears are growing for Dolly Parton’s health after the country music superstar cancelled shows and her sister posted an emotional message to fans on social media on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,” Frieda Parton posted on her Facebook page.

Dolly Parton has had to cancel some upcoming shows – now her sister has asked for her fans’ prayers.

“Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.

“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! ,” Frieda Parton wrote.

Her plea comes after Parton cancelled a series of Vegas shows with a slightly tongue-in-cheek, albeit worrying post on Instagram on September 29.

“As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” she wrote.

“As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.”

The 79-year-old said her fans paid “good money” to see her so she wanted to be at her best.

“And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”

Last month Parton was unable to attend the announcement of a new ride at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, revealing in a video message at the event she had kidney stones, local station WATE 6 News reported.

Dolly Parton with Carl Dean, her husband of 60 years who died earlier this year.

“I had a little problem, I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problem, turned out [it had] given me an infection and the doctor said ‘You don’t need to be travelling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better’ so he suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I’m there with you in spirit,” Parton said.

It has been a challenging year for Parton. In March, her husband of nearly 60 years Carl Dean died, aged 82.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton wrote in a statement at the time.

Dean had largely avoided the spotlight but was responsible for inspiring Parton to write one of her biggest hits – “Joelene”. In 2008, the singer told NPR in 2008 that she wrote the track about a flirty bank teller who took an interest in Dean.

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us ... So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

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