Dolly Parton shared an update on her health after missing the Dollywood Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The 79-year-old country icon shared the video on social media on Wednesday after missing the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on Monday.
“Hi, hello, I'm Dolly,” Parton began. “And as much as I wish I could have joined you in person today, you know that I'm facing some health issues this fall. My doctor has told me to take some time off.”
Parton said she was “really disappointed” not to be able to attend, but wanted to use the opportunity to thank everyone for the “incredible honor”, including her partners Jack and Peter Herschend, who co-own the Dollywood theme park.
“And to Jack and Peter, thank you for being my partners and friends for over 40 years,” she said. “You are a blessing to me and I love you dearly. You know, our partnership is really special. I trust them and they trust me. And when I bring big ideas and dreams, they always listen.”
Parton also praised the duo and the amazing team at Dollywood for finding “a way to make dreams come true.”
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“I still remember when I had the big idea for Dollywood. I dreamed of a place here in the Smoky Mountains where families could perform, where families could provide stable jobs for the good people of the community, and where families could come and laugh, play, have fun, and make memories together,” she said, adding that she was then “nervous” about opening the theme park in 1986.
“I was nervous like a kid waiting to see if someone was going to come to his birthday party,” the Jolene singer said. “When I looked out the bus window, I saw a lot of cars lined up. Can you believe it? They're still lined up today.”
“I'm so grateful that you think I deserve this recognition,” Parton said.
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“The IAAPA Hall of Fame induction is a great and great way to celebrate Dollywood's 40th anniversary season,” she added.
Parton said she is the second person in history to be inducted solo and the fourth woman in IAAPA's 100-year history.
“So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for this honor and to everyone who makes up Dollywood,” she said, adding, “Please remember that I love you always.”
Parton's absence comes after she virtually accepted an honorary Oscar award at the Governors Awards at Hollywood's Ray Dolby Ballroom over the weekend.
She accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences remotely from Tennessee on November 16th.
Parton, standing next to the Oscar, sent a video message to the Academy, calling the win a “once-in-a-lifetime blessing.”
“I grew up in a house with 12 kids,” Parton began. “This alone shows us how important it is to share. Don't get me wrong, we didn't have a lot to share, but my mom and dad taught me by example that the more you give, the more blessings will come to you.”
“And I've been blessed beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of, like this award tonight,” Parton added. “It's an honor just to be considered, but to receive this is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing. And I don't take things like this lightly. It makes me want to dream of new ways to help lift people up.”
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So, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Parton said before holding up the award.
Earlier this year, Parton postponed her first trip to Las Vegas in 32 years, citing “health issues.”
“As many of you know, I have been having some health issues and my doctors have told me I need some procedures. As I joked to them, it must be time for a 100,000 mile checkup. Although going to see a plastic surgeon is not the norm!” she wrote in an announcement shared on Instagram.
“Lately, everyone thinks I'm sicker than I actually am,” Parton told fans in another health update shared in October.
“As I said, we have some issues,” Parton said. “When my husband Carl was seriously ill, it had been going on for a long time, and then when he passed away, I let go of what I was supposed to do because I wasn't taking care of myself. So anyway, when I got into it, the doctor said, 'You need to deal with this. You need to deal with that.'”
She said that although it was “no big deal,” she “had to cancel a few things to be closer to home and closer to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.” “I'm getting some treatments here and there, but I just wanted you to know that I'm not going to die.”
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