Dolly Parton Misses Dollywood Occasion on Physician’s Orders, Offers New Well being Replace

Dolly Parton had deliberate to be at Dollywood for one of many park’s largest occasions of the yr, however her physician had different plans.

The 80-year-old nation icon missed the Aug. 14 dedication of NightFlight Expedition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and as an alternative appeared in a prerecorded video from Nashville. Parton defined that she was coping with dehydration and had been suggested to not journey.

“Generally I get somewhat dizzy, and I get dehydrated,” Parton stated, in accordance with Just Jared. She joked that her Nashville physician had “clipped my wings,” telling her, “You ain’t touring this week.”

Parton additionally provided reassurance amid the broader well being points which have affected a number of of her public appearances over the previous yr. She stated “all goes properly on the medical finish of issues” and emphasised that she is continuous to work whereas following her physician’s recommendation.

Her Physician Advised Her To not Journey That Week

Parton had anticipated to attend the NightFlight Expedition occasion in individual and apologized for having to stay in Nashville. “I’m nonetheless in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,” she stated within the video. “I used to be speculated to be in individual, like we deliberate.”

Enjoying off the butterfly imagery lengthy related to Dollywood, Parton stated her “butterfly wings” had been flapping by means of a number of deliberate opening dates for NightFlight Expedition earlier than turning to her personal well being.

“Now I’m dehydrated, and so my Nashville physician sort of clipped my wings, saying, ‘You ain’t touring this week,’” she stated. “All goes properly on the medical finish of issues,” she advised visitors.

Parton Has Been Working By means of Well being Points for Months

The most recent absence follows a interval during which Parton has repeatedly spoken about needing time to recuperate. In September 2025, she postponed her deliberate Las Vegas residency after saying medical doctors had suggested her to endure a number of medical procedures. The exhibits, initially scheduled for December 2025 and later moved to 2026, have been in the end canceled in Could whereas she continued therapy.

That Could, Parton stated she was responding properly to medicine and therapy however nonetheless had therapeutic to do. She additionally mentioned her historical past of kidney stones and stated her immune and digestive methods had turn out to be “out of whack” over the last few years, in accordance with Entertainment Weekly.

NightFlight Expedition itself has intersected with these well being setbacks earlier than. Parton missed the attraction’s September 2025 announcement at Dollywood after a kidney stone led to an an infection and her physician suggested her to not journey.

She did return to Dollywood in individual in March for the opening of the park’s forty first season. At that look, Parton stated her well being points and the grief following the March 2025 loss of life of her husband, Carl Dean, had left her “worn down and worn out.” “I simply bought myself sort of the place I wanted to construct myself again up spiritually, emotionally, and bodily,” she stated on the time. “However, all is nice. It didn’t gradual me down.”

She Says the Well being Setbacks Have Not Stopped Her From Working

“I proceed working away on all of our different tasks,” she stated, naming the SongTeller Lodge and Dolly’s Lifetime of Many Colours Museum in Nashville in addition to her Broadway musical in New York. Her Broadway venture, Dolly: A True Unique Musical, is scheduled to reach on Broadway this winter.

Parton has beforehand stated she has spent vital time rewriting and transforming the autobiographical manufacturing whereas recovering. The Nashville tasks have additionally saved her busy. The SongTeller Lodge and Lifetime of Many Colours Museum are a part of a significant downtown improvement constructed round Parton’s life, music and profession.

Parton shortly turned the main focus away from herself and again towards the attraction she had deliberate to have a good time. “I’ve been wanting to inform all people about our nice new trip, NightFlight Expedition,” she stated. “And you’ve got enjoyable, and I’ll see you down the street.”

NightFlight Expedition Is Dollywood’s Greatest Journey Funding

When Dollywood first introduced the attraction, it described the venture as an funding of greater than $50 million. By the Aug. 14 opening celebration, native protection put the ultimate funding at greater than $60 million, nonetheless making it the biggest single-attraction funding in Dollywood historical past.

The official Dollywood announcement describes NightFlight Expedition as an indoor household hybrid coaster and whitewater river journey that mixes a number of completely different trip experiences.

The roughly five-and-a-half-minute attraction sends visitors hovering over the Smokies, climbing a mountainside, plunging into whitewater rapids and navigating a mysterious bioluminescent lake. It operates inside a 44,000-square-foot climate-controlled constructing in Wildwood Grove.

NightFlight Expedition begins preview rides for eligible season passholders from Aug. 15 by means of Aug. 18. Dollywood says the attraction opens to most of the people on Aug. 19.