Prayers for Dolly: Freda Parton’s Heartfelt Plea Amid Her Sister’s Health Struggles
Fans around the world are uniting in prayer this week after Freda Parton, the younger sister of Dolly Parton, shared a deeply emotional message asking for support amid the country legend’s recent health concerns.
On October 7th, Freda took to Facebook to write, “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately.” She continued with a heartfelt appeal that has since been shared thousands of times: “I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me. 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 Dolly, we all love you.”
Freda’s message quickly spread across social media, with fans from every generation posting photos, memories, and prayers for the beloved Queen of Country. For many, Dolly has been more than an entertainer — she’s been a voice of kindness, faith, and comfort for over six decades.
The message comes just over a week after Dolly Parton, 79, announced that she would be postponing her planned Las Vegas concert series to focus on her health. In a statement shared to Instagram on September 28th, she wrote with her signature humor, “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures — although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.”
Then, in a moment of honesty that revealed the heart behind her professionalism, Dolly added, “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. You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you. While I’ll still be able to work on all of my projects from here in Nashville, I just need a little time to get show-ready, as they say.”
The announcement was met with both concern and overwhelming love. Fans praised her for being transparent and putting her health first, a move that reflects the same grace and humility that have long defined her career.
The postponed performances, originally scheduled for December 2025, are now set for September 2026, giving the country icon nearly a year to recover and prepare. While Dolly hasn’t shared many details about the nature of her procedures, reports suggest she has been facing ongoing health issues in recent months.
Earlier this year, she was forced to withdraw from a Dollywood event after being diagnosed with a kidney stone, an incident that reportedly left her in significant discomfort but did not dampen her trademark optimism.
Friends close to the Parton family have said that Dolly has been resting in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones and continuing to write and record music in quieter settings. “She never stops creating,” one longtime friend said. “Even when she’s supposed to rest, she’s writing lyrics on napkins and humming melodies. That’s Dolly — her spirit just doesn’t quit.”
What makes this moment especially poignant is how deeply it has touched the fans who grew up with her. Messages of encouragement have flooded her social media accounts, many quoting her own lyrics as prayers of hope:
“If you see me in my dreams tonight, know I’m sending you love,” one fan wrote, referencing “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Another shared a simple message: “We’ve loved you through every storm, Dolly. Now let us lift you through this one.”
Even in the face of uncertainty, Dolly’s light continues to shine through the love of those who surround her — her family, her fans, and her faith. Freda’s post, written in the quiet hours of the night, seems to have reminded millions of something Dolly has always believed: that the power of prayer and community can move mountains.
For now, the world waits — not with worry, but with hope. As one fan beautifully put it, “Dolly has carried us through hard times with her songs. Now it’s our turn to carry her in prayer.”
And as Freda so lovingly wrote: “She’s strong. She’s loved. And with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know she’s going to be just fine.”
Godspeed, Dolly. The world is praying for you.