Dolly Parton's sister reassures fans after asking them to pray for singer
Dolly Parton's sister sought to reassure fans on Tuesday after asking them to pray for the country music star earlier in the day.
On Tuesday evening, Parton's sister Freida Parton took to Facebook to clarify that Parton was simply "a little under the weather" and not seriously ill, as some on social media had speculated.
"I want to clear something up. I didn't mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly," Freida Parton wrote in her post. "She's been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer."
She added, "It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister."
Freida Parton finished by thanking fans for supporting her sister, writing, "Your love truly makes a difference."
The new comments came hours after a Facebook post earlier Tuesday, in which Freida Parton had written that she had been "up all night praying" for her superstar sibling.
"Many of you know she hasn't been feeling her best lately," she wrote at the time. "I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead [sic] to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me."
She continued, "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 sissy Dolly. We all love you!"
The "Jolene" singer has not publicly disclosed the nature of her health issues. ABC News has reached out to Dolly Parton's reps for comment.
A source close to Dolly Parton told ABC News that the singer is doing well and continuing to work.
Freida Parton's Facebook post comes a little more than a week after the singer announced on social media that she was postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency due to health concerns.
"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," she wrote in a statement at the time. " As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it's not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!"
She continued, "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."
She added that she had no plans to retire.
"Don't worry about me quittin' the business because God hasn't said anything about stopping yet," she wrote. "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. I love you and thank you for understanding."
Dolly Parton's residency, "Dolly: Live in Las Vegas," was scheduled to coincide with the National Finals Rodeo, with six concerts set for Dec. 4-13.
In an earlier statement shared in a press release about the residency, the singer said she was "excited" to perform in at The Colosseum at Caesars, which would have marked her first extended run in Las Vegas in 32 years.
"I haven't worked Vegas in years and I've always loved singing there," she stated at the time. "I'm looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there!"
The shows were set to include fan-favorite songs from over the years, including "9 to 5," "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You" and "Coat of Many Colors."
