Dolly Parton's Sister Asks For Prayers Amid Singer's "Health Challenges": "I Was Up All Night Praying For My Sister"

Deadline ^ | Oct 7, 2025 | Armando Tinoco

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Dolly Parton has been facing some “health challenges,” and her sister, Freida Parton, has asked for prayers for the country star.

After Dolly Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency in September, her sister Freida took to social media to ask her fans to pray for her.

“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 lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me,” Freida shared on Facebook.

It was on September 28 that a statement on Dolly Parton’s social media accounts announced she would have to postpone her residency at the Colosseum Theaters at Caesar’s Palace.

“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts,” read the statement on Instagram. “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. 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!”

[where's_the_Outrage?]

She's 79 and recently lost her husband of 59 years. Beautiful lady, prayers to her.

One of my favorite songs is Jolene:

Dolly sings Jolene

Jolene backstory

“And I remember this little red-headed girl, green eyes, prettiest little thing and I said, ‘well what’s your name?’ And she said ‘Jolene.’ And I said, ‘well I love that name.’ All the way back to the bus I’m going Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, so I wouldn’t forget the name,” Parton told Dokoupil. As she recounts the story, she sings the name Jolene in that now instantly recognizable tune.

She took this name she loved and gave it to a character based on another red-head, a bank teller who once flirted with Parton’s husband, Carl Dean.

[Mustard]

Dolly is an American treasure.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Silicon disease?

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I ran into her a couple of times when I was working at a big country station in Los Angeles during the 80s and 90s. I'm a massive fan of hers, and the station manager knew I was eager to meet her and get a photo together. She was kind enough to call me into the booth for a picture, but unfortunately, the promotion manager messed up the film later on.

A few nights later, she had a concert, and the station manager told her what happened with the film. Dolly was super nice and told him to invite me to her dressing room for another photo after the show. We ended up chatting for about 15 minutes. She asked me about my life and was just as genuine and sweet as she appears in public.
I was also really surprised at how short she is.

[Cronos]

isn’t she like 5’ nothing?

[Fai Mao]

She has always maintained it 8s all natural, no implants

[Scarlett156]

What, is she supposed to live forever? G0d grant her peace for whatever remains of her time on earth.

[metmom]

Many of us have health challenges.

Not many of us are famous enough for everyone to get all bent out of shape over it. It’s not more tragic or serious just because she’s rich and famous.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Haha, yeah. She’s a tiny little thing.

[metmom]

THANK YOU!!!!

I am constantly staggered by the number of people who pray for very elderly relatives for healing when clearly their time has come.

For one thing, they may not WANT to be healed.

Another is, your point is well taken, NOBODY lives forever. We need to learn to pray that God would save the person if need be, and grant them a peaceful and quick passing when HE knows their time has come.

Really, who wants to live forever in this fallen world when we know such a better one awaits us?

[Empire_of_Liberty]

ALL of us, age. We should not, I believe, cling to youth.

[metmom]

It’s hard not to when your health starts to deteriorate though.

You absolutely want it back.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

What you say is true! I still cannot believe, however, how many people will refuse to use a cane! Forget the vanity, save your knees.

[DFG]

In 1977, Dolly Parton visited ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ for a bawdy chat. While Parton was talking to Carson about jokes about her body, the host eventually said he’d “give about a year’s pay to peek under there.”

[jacknhoo]

Lord, please send Your Holy Spirit down upon Dolly Parton and bring her in sincere repentance to You. Amen.

____________________________

Dolly Parton, LGBTQ+ Icon, Awarded $100 Million for Charity Work
https://www.advocate.com/people/2022/11/14/dolly-parton-lgbtq-icon-awarded-100-million-charity-work

Legendary ally Dolly Parton is finally winning an Oscar for this surprising reason
She was nominated twice before for Best Original Song... but she’s finally winning an Oscar for something else.

Daniel Villarreal
June 17, 2025

A quick history of Dolly Parton’s LGBTQ+ activism
Parton has spoken against transphobic bathroom bills, telling CNN Money, “I think everybody should be treated with respect,” and adding, “If I have to pee, I’m gonna pee, wherever it’s got to be.”

Dolly Parton has long supported same-sex marriage equality. She has joked, “Why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do,” but she thoughtfully added, “I think love is love, and we have no control over that… I think people should be allowed to [marry].”

In 2011, when a woman at a Dollywood amusement park was told to turn her pro-marriage equality T-shirt inside-out, Dolly Parton personally apologized, saying, “Everyone knows of my personal support of the gay and lesbian community.” She also promised that such a thing would never happen again.

She has spoken against anti-LGBTQ+ Christians, saying, “If people want to pass judgment, they’re already sinning… I try to love everybody.” However, Parton isn’t perfect. She angered some fans by saying that some people may identify as nonbinary or pansexual because it’s “fashionable” or “for effect.”

However, she has embraced her gay fans. In a 2016 New York Times interview, Parton said, “I have a huge gay following, and I’m proud of them. Sometimes some of them look more like me than I do.” She may have referenced that she once lost a Dolly Parton look-alike drag contest. “I didn’t win,” she told Good Morning America in 2009. “I didn’t even come in close.”

______________________________

Dolly Parton’s turning 77. Her philanthropy & LGBTQ+ activism have made her a national treasure
Dolly Parton isn’t just famous for her country music, but also for her generosity, low-key political activism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Daniel Villarreal
January 17, 2023, 5:00 pm EST
Country music star Dolly Parton will be celebrating her 77 birthday this week. But the famous singer of “Jolene” and other country music hits isn’t just famous for her music, but also for her philanthropy, low-key political activism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Here’s a quick look at why Dolly Parton isn’t just an LGBTQ+ icon, but also a hero to so many across the United States and the globe.

Dolly Parton’s politics and political views

Dolly Parton has been famously quiet about her politics and political views. She even twice rejected President Donald Trump’s offer of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a statue of her at the Tennessee Capitol.

“I don’t do politics,” she said in a 2019 episode of her biography podcast Dolly Parton’s America. “I have too many fans on both sides of the fence. Of course, I have my opinion, but I learned years ago to keep my mouth shut about things.”

Never Miss a Beat
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As a result, Dolly Parton has never publicly said whether she’s a Republican or a Democrat. However, The Independent noted that she voiced support for equal rights for all people, removed the word “Dixie” from a Dollywood attraction because of its confederate origins, and has a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Dolly Parton’s views on LGBTQ+ issues
@dollyparton
Looks like I missed a lot! You all are so creative. Now that I’m here, tag me! ❤️ #heyitsdolly #dollytok

♬ 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton

In her 1991 song “Family,” Parton sang, “Some are preachers / some are gay / some are addicts, drunks and strays / But not a one is turned away when it’s family.” While the comparison is unflattering, her message of LGBTQ+ acceptance has only become more pronounced through her career.

In 2005, she allowed her song “Travelin’ Thru” to be used in the transgender family road-trip drama Transamerica. The song was also nominated for an Oscar. Parton has spoken against transphobic bathroom bills, telling CNN Money, “I think everybody should be treated with respect,” and adding, “If I have to pee, I’m gonna pee, wherever it’s got to be.”

Dolly Parton has long supported same-sex marriage equality. She has joked, “Why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do,” but she thoughtfully added, “I think love is love, and we have no control over that… I think people should be allowed to [marry].”

In 2011, when a woman at a Dollywood amusement park was told to turn her pro-marriage equality T-shirt inside-out, Dolly Parton personally apologized, saying, “Everyone knows of my personal support of the gay and lesbian community.” She also promised that such a thing would never happen again.

She has spoken against anti-LGBTQ+ Christians, saying, “If people want to pass judgment, they’re already sinning… I try to love everybody.” However, Parton isn’t perfect. She angered some fans by saying that some people may identify as nonbinary or pansexual because it’s “fashionable” or “for effect.”

However, she has embraced her gay fans. In a 2016 New York Times interview, Parton said, “I have a huge gay following, and I’m proud of them. Sometimes some of them look more like me than I do.” She may have referenced that she once lost a Dolly Parton look-alike drag contest. “I didn’t win,” she told Good Morning America in 2009. “I didn’t even come in close.”

_____________________________________

Marshals arrest Dollywood contractor for child sex crimes, found with 3 minors, U.S. Marshals say

“The subject was an employee of APDC Cleaning Services, Inc. (APDC), a third-party staffing service that recruits and hires international workers. APDC was responsible for background identity checks and employment authorization of its employees assigned to Dollywood. He was assigned to a back-of-house position at Dollywood but was not working at the time of his arrest. Dollywood has ended its business relationship with APDC and will separate with any other APDC contract workers assigned to the park, effective August 9. Any more information or questions about the subject need to be directed to APDC or to law enforcement.”

Dollywood Management

https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/07/19/marshals-arrest-dollywood-contractor-child-sex-crimes-found-with-3-minors-us-marshals-say/

__________________________________________

[jacknhoo]

Link for the second Excerpt above (forgot to include it):

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/06/legendary-ally-dolly-parton-is-finally-winning-an-oscar-for-this-surprising-reason/

[shelterguy]

“””While Parton was talking to Carson about jokes about her body, the host eventually said he’d “give about a year’s pay to peek under there.””””””

Good show. I remember that one.

[AuntB]

“Really, who wants to live forever in this fallen world when we know such a better one awaits us?”

What are you waiting for?

[metmom]

God’s timing.

When and how is HIS decision, not mine.

Why are you suggesting to someone to kill themselves?

[AuntB]

Shut up. You are a cruel nasty old woman. I never suggested that. Go screw yourself you nasty hag . Phony Christian zealot.