Music icon Dolly Parton made her first significant public appearance of 2026 on Friday, March 13, delivering a keynote address at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. The event celebrated the park's 41st anniversary and provided Parton a platform to share updates on her personal health and ongoing projects. The 80-year-old singer acknowledged, "I’ve not been touring, as you know. I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them."

These health issues were connected to the postponement of her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Originally slated for December, the residency is now scheduled to commence in mid-September. Parton further elaborated on her challenges, revealing that she had been "worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on." This grief stemmed from the passing of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, who died at age 82 in March 2025, after nearly six decades of marriage.

Parton emphasized her journey to recovery, stating, "I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down." She also shared a humorous anecdote about her romantic status, joking that she's "not dating anybody," before expressing heartfelt sentiments about Dean. "I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me," she mused. "If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He’d be saying, ‘Who’s that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.’ ”

Beyond personal updates, Parton also provided a glimpse into her professional endeavors. She disclosed that she is actively rewriting songs for her upcoming Broadway musical, *Dolly: An Original Musical*, which is expected to debut in New York later this year. During a question-and-answer session with the audience, Parton offered profound life advice: "Never forget who you are, never forget where you came from, and always kind of go back home. You can always go back home in your heart and in your mind."