Dolly Parton Apologizes For Missing IAAPA Dollywood Hall of Fame Induction Amid Health Challenges: ‘I Sure Wish I Could Be With You’

As country icon Dolly Parton continues to convalesce from an undisclosed illness that has kept her close to home for the past month the singer sent a heartfelt thank you message to Monday’s (Nov. 17) gathering of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), where her Dollywood theme park was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“Hey there it’s Dolly! And I sure wish I could be with you in person today,” Parton said in a thank you video posted on her Instagram on Wednesday (Nov. 19). “But you probably heard that I been dealing with a few health challenges this fall and my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while.”

Dressed in a bedazzled light blue jumpsuit and looking bright-eyed and energetic while seated in front of a blue backdrop next to a vase of white flowers, Parton, 79, said she was “truly sorry” she could not be there in person, adding that she wanted to say thank you for the “incredible honor.” She also thanked her partners of 40 years in the park, giving them props for always listening to her “big ideas” for changes to the park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. that averages around three million visitors a year, making it one of the state’s biggest ticketed tourist attractions.

She recalled when she first had the idea for Dollywood she dreamed of a destination in the Smoky Mountains where her family could perform, she could provide steady work for the members of her community, as well as a place where families could come to laugh, play and make memories together. She told the story of taking over the old Rebel Railroad park in 1986 and being nervous on opening day, wondering if anyone would show up.

“I peeked out the window of my bus and saw all those cars lined up and would you believe it, they’re still lined up today!,” said Parton, who is only the second woman to be inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame on her own and the fourth total woman in the organization’s 100-year history. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this honor. For me and for everyone who makes Dollywood what it is. And to all my friends and partners and to all of you out there helping families make magic everyday in your own parks and places, remember that I will always love you.”

Parton was also unable to attend Sunday night’s (Nov. 16) 2025 Governors Awards in person to accept the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award due to her recent health issues. Back in early October, Parton’s sister Freida sparked some concern among the singer’s fans when she asked for prayers for the singer as she dealt with the undisclosed health matter, then apologized for scaring them. “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,” Freida said at the time.

A day later, Parton posted an Instagram video assuring folks that she’s under the weather but still busy. “I’m here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I’m dressed kinda like a country-western girl, but before I got started, I wanted to say, I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am … do I look sick to you?! I’m workin’ hard here,” she said.

“Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate,” she added. “I want you to know that I’m OK. I’ve got some problems as I mentioned. Back when my husband Carl was very sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. I let a lot of things go that I I should’ve been takin’ care of, so anyway when I got around to it, the doctor said, ‘We need to take care of this, we need to take care of that.’ Nothin’ major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kinda havin’ a few treatments here and there.”

Though her team has not discussed what has laid the country icon low, in that video message Parton assured her followers that she’s “not dying.” Parton’s beloved husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, died earlier this year at age 82 and in September Parton announced that she was postponing her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace — which was due to kick off next month — due to some health challenges. The residency is now slated to begin in 2026.