The younger sister of Dolly Parton is publicly asking fans for prayers as the country music great continues to recover from recent health problems.
Freida Parton took to social media on Tuesday afternoon, encouraging everyone within reach to join her in praying for her older sister as she battles an unspecified medical issue.
“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,” the singer-songwriter shared in an emotional post on Facebook. “Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”
Freida, 68, didn’t offer any additional details, but said she remains hopeful that her sister will pull through.
“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,” wrote Freida, who’s one of Dolly’s 11 siblings.
Late last month, Dolly postponed her first Las Vegas residency in more than 30 years, saying she was dealing with “health challenges” that required “a few procedures.” Prior to that, she also missed the announcement of Dollywood’s latest ride in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
“It must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!,” the 79-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer joked in a statement. “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.”
Two days later, Variety reported that Dolly will miss this year’s Governors Awards in November, where she was set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her lifelong dedication to charitable endeavors.
Despite the setbacks, Dolly assured her fans that she’s still in the game.
“Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business, because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she wrote in her statement: “But I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
