Considering the fact that music icon Dolly Parton has long been considered a national treasure, knowing that she’s been feeling under the weather lately has fans on edge — and never more so than when her sister, Freida Parton, asked for prayers earlier this week. Now, Freida is clearing the air about what she really meant … and fortunately, Dolly’s happy to offer some reassurance herself, too.
Dolly recently canceled her Las Vegas concerts due to her health.
On September 28, the 79-year-old singer shared a statement on social media announcing to fans that she would have to reschedule her upcoming concerts since she was “dealing with some health challenges.”
“In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see,” she wrote. “You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.”
Freida’s statement on Dolly this week has fans seriously concerned.
On Tuesday, Freida shared a photo of Dolly on Facebook, writing that she was “up all night praying” for her.
“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 wrote. “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. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
Now, she’s clearing the air.
Fans were a bit freaked out over Freida’s message, with some believing that she was trying to say that Dolly’s health had taken a turn for the worse.
But hours after the panic set in, Freida returned to let everyone know that the situation with her sister is not quite that dire.
“I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly,” she explained. “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. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
Dolly even threw in a video herself for good measure.
In order to reassure fans even further, Dolly took to social media herself on Wednesday to share a video to show that she was up and working at a studio in full hair and makeup as she filmed commercials for the Grand Ole Opry.
“I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am, but do I look sick to you?” she asked the camera. “I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seemed to be real concerned, which I appreciate.”
She added in her caption, “I ain’t dead yet!”
