Country music icon Dolly Parton shared a heartfelt Thanksgiving message with fans on Thursday, November 27, 2025, appearing healthy and vibrant despite recent health struggles that have concerned her supporters throughout the fall. The 79-year-old performer posted a video on Instagram expressing gratitude and love for her fans during what marks her first Thanksgiving since the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
In the emotional video message, Parton wore a brown tweed top with her signature blonde hair styled up with curls down. “Well hey! It’s Dolly here, and I want to wish all of you and your family blessings this Thanksgiving,” she said. Dolly expressed her gratitude to everyone for the memories they have shared over the years, wished them all a Happy Thanksgiving, and affirmed that she will always love them.
The Thanksgiving message comes after a challenging year for the music legend, who has faced multiple health setbacks requiring medical attention. In September, Parton postponed her highly anticipated Las Vegas appearance after doctors informed her she needed to undergo several procedures. The performance, titled “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas,” was scheduled to take place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace but has been rescheduled to September 2026.
When announcing the postponement, Parton shared with fans that her doctors told her she must have a few procedures done. She joked with them that it must be time for her 100,000-mile check-up, although she clarified it was not the usual trip to see her plastic surgeon. In all seriousness, she explained she would not be able to rehearse and put together the show that she wanted fans to see and that they deserved to see.
The health issues proved more concerning in early October when Parton’s sister Freida posted on Facebook requesting prayers for the singer. Freida revealed she was up all night praying for her sister and expressed belief in the power of prayer.
Following the flood of concern from fans, Freida later clarified her comments, stating she did not mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers. She explained that Dolly had simply been a little under the weather.
Parton herself addressed the speculation directly on October 8, 2025, taking to X to reassure her supporters. In a video post captioned “I ain’t dead yet,” the singer explained that everybody thinks she is sicker than she is. Dolly stressed that she didn’t look sick and was working hard, wanting to put everybody’s mind at ease, especially those who seemed truly concerned, whose care and prayers she appreciated.
The 11-time Grammy winner revealed the root cause of her recent health problems stemmed from kidney stones that caused an infection. She explained that when her husband Carl Dean was very sick for a long time, and then when he passed, she did not take care of herself and let a lot of things go that she should have been taking care of. Dean died on March 3, 2025, at age 82 after the couple had been together for 60 years. They married in 1966.
Despite the health challenges, Parton described the problems as nothing major and maintained her characteristically optimistic outlook. She emphasized that while she is a person of faith and can always use prayers for anything and everything, she wanted fans to know she is okay. The kidney stones also forced her to cancel a Dollywood appearance, as doctors advised her she did not need to be traveling at that time and needed a few days to get better.
Speaking to People magazine recently, Parton made clear she has no plans to slow down her career. When people mention she is going to be 80 years old, she responds with “so what,” pointing to all she has accomplished in 80 years.
She continued by sharing her philosophy on aging, stating there is a lot to be said about age and that if you allow yourself to get old, you will.
While working from her Nashville home base, Parton has remained active in her various projects and business ventures. She reassured fans when postponing her Vegas shows that while she needs a little time to get show ready, she will still be able to work on all of her projects. She also emphasized that fans should not worry about her quitting the business because God has not said anything about stopping yet, though she believes He is telling her to slow down right now so she can be ready for more big adventures.
Dean had been ill for quite a while before his death, and Parton later revealed that part of her was at peace that he was at peace and not suffering anymore. The couple, who met in 1964 when Parton was just 18 years old, maintained a notably private relationship throughout their nearly six decades together, with Dean rarely making public appearances despite his wife’s global fame.
The Thanksgiving message demonstrated Parton’s resilience and connection with her fanbase during a period marked by both personal loss and health challenges. Her appearance in the video showed her looking animated and healthy, offering reassurance to supporters who have followed her journey through this difficult year.