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Dolly Parton Skips Dollywood Ribbon-Cutting In Person, Says Doctor 'Clipped My Wings'

The 80-year-old icon addressed the crowd by video instead of appearing live at the park's new NightFlight Expedition coaster, citing dizziness and dehydration.

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BY OBSERVER ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The Weekly Observer

AUG 15, 2026 · 2 MIN READ
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Dolly Parton Skips Dollywood Ribbon-Cutting In Person, Says Doctor 'Clipped My Wings'
Dolly Parton in Nashville — file photo. (Wikimedia Commons)

Dolly Parton was supposed to appear in person Friday for the dedication of Dollywood's new roller coaster, NightFlight Expedition — but the 80-year-old icon instead addressed the crowd through a prerecorded video message after her doctor advised against travel, according to Rolling Stone.

"I've had a few little health issues, and sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated," Parton said in the video, explaining her absence to fans gathered for the coaster's unveiling. "My Nashville doctor kind of clipped my wings, saying, 'You ain't traveling this week.'"

Parton was quick to reassure fans that the situation isn't serious, adding that "all is going well on the medical end," per Parade's account of the video message. She did not specify a diagnosis or how long the travel restriction would last.

"MY NASHVILLE DOCTOR KIND OF CLIPPED MY WINGS"

The park's dedication of NightFlight Expedition went ahead as scheduled despite Parton's absence, with the video message standing in for what would typically be a hands-on appearance from the Dollywood founder, who has long made a point of showing up personally for the park's major openings. Parton, who turns 81 next January, has scaled back travel commitments gradually in recent years while continuing to release new music and maintain a heavy hand in Dollywood's operations from Nashville.

No further health details have been released, and representatives for Parton have not indicated whether the dizziness and dehydration she described are tied to a specific ongoing condition or were treated as an isolated incident. Fans and fellow performers flooded social media with well-wishes following the video's release.

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