Dolly Parton’s sister clarifies intent after requesting prayers for the US country star, stating she did not mean to cause alarm.
The 79-year-old singer recently withdrew from a Dollywood event due to a kidney stone causing “a lot of problems”.
Following the postponement of her upcoming Las Vegas residency, Freida Parton requested prayers from fans, noting her sister “hasn’t been feeling her best”.
In a subsequent Facebook post, Freida Parton clarified, “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.”
“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 representative for Dolly Parton informed CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, that the singer plans to address concerns in a social media message on Wednesday.
In her initial post, Freida Parton mentioned she had been “up all night praying for my sister”, who “hasn’t been feeling her best lately”.
However, Freida Parton concluded her message with optimism.
“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,” she wrote. “Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
Dolly Parton was scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December.
However, she postponed the performances to September of the following year, citing ongoing “health challenges” that require “a few procedures”.
Kidney stones are a common condition, affecting more than 1 in 10 people, according to the NHS. Larger stones can cause significant pain and potential complications if untreated.
Earlier this year, Dolly Parton mourned the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, after nearly six decades of marriage.
She subsequently dedicated a new song, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” to his memory.
Parton is celebrated for numerous country crossover hits, including “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” “9 To 5,” and “Jolene.”
Her Las Vegas residency would have marked her first performances on the Strip since the 1990s, when she shared the stage with Kenny Rogers, her duet partner for “Islands In The Stream.”
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