Dollywood just made a huge announcement about a new ride coming to their theme park in 2026, but the ride announcement was overshadowed by another announcement.
Dolly Parton is always present when new rides and attractions are announced at Dollywood, but she was noticeably absent from this announcement. Dollywood President Eugene Naughton told the audience that Parton is “sorry she couldn’t be here. She’s a little under the weather, but let me let her tell you in her own voice.”
In a video of the presentation which was shared by WATE news, he pointed to the screen above the stage, and Parton spoke to the audience in a prerecorded message in which she addressed why she was not at Dollywood. She said, “Hello Dollywood! It’s me! I know, I’m here and you’re there and wondering why that is.” She explained, “I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone. Turns out there was an infection, and the doctor said: ‘You don’t need to be traveling around this minute… You need a few days to feel better.’ So he suggested I not go to Dollywood today.”
Even though she couldn’t be at Dollywood in person, Parton reassured her fans that she’s “going to be okay. Just can’t do it today.”
She also expressed excitement about the new ride that was announced for Dollywood. She explained that she was “so looking forward to” being there for the ride announcement because it has been in the works for 3 years. She shared that it’s the “most expensive” attraction they’ve ever built, and that’s a unique attraction where there’s “nothing else like it in the world.”
Parton admitted, “I usually don’t ride the rides, but this one sounds so magical, I might just check that one out.”
She ended her video message by apologizing for not being at Dollywood in person and reassuring fans she’ll be back “as quick as I can.”
This is not the first time Parton has had kidney stones. The Daily Mail reports that she had multiple kidney stones in 2015.
It has been a tough year for Parton, not just due to her current health scare, but due to the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean. He was 82 years old.