Dolly Parton's Friends Plead With Singer To Slow Down Amid Fears Of A 'Burnout'

Dolly Parton continues to dazzle fans while pushing herself relentlessly, prompting concern from family and close friends about her health.

Despite postponing her Las Vegas shows, she's back to her busy schedule, decorating for the holidays and preparing for her 80th birthday.

Now, close friends of Dolly Parton are reportedly pleading with the iconic country singer to slow down and take a break.

Parton's sparkle may still dazzle the world, but those closest to her are quietly worried she's pushing herself too hard.

At 79, the country music icon had to postpone her Las Vegas residency earlier this year due to undisclosed health issues, yet insiders say she's back to her tireless schedule as if nothing happened.

"She refuses to rest," shared a longtime friend with journalist Rob Shuter's #Shuterscoop.

They added, "She'll write a song at dawn, film all afternoon, then take meetings until midnight. She pushes herself harder than people half her age."

Her sister, Frieda, recently raised concern by asking fans to keep the "Jolene" hitmaker in their prayers, hinting that she "hasn't been feeling her best."

But in true Dolly fashion, the "Jolene" hitmaker laughed off the rumors, posting a cheeky video saying, "Y'all, I ain't dead yet!"

Despite Parton's assuring words to fans, those in her inner circle insist the worries are valid.

"Dolly wants to prove she's unstoppable," one insider said about the singer's work ethic. "But the truth is, she's still recovering. She just won't slow down long enough to admit it."

Behind the scenes, her team has reportedly been urging her to ease up on her constant travel, public appearances, and late-night writing sessions.

"Dolly's light is still blindingly bright," a close associate told Shuter. "We all just want her to shine for 20 more years — not burn out trying to be superhuman."

Despite the health concerns, a source tells People Magazine that Dolly's health is steadily improving.

"She's getting better every day," the insider shared. "In true Dolly spirit, she has already started decorating for the holidays — her favorite time of year."

Just weeks before postponing her shows, Parton sat down with the publication for a cover story, where she opened up about her tireless work ethic, her upcoming 80th birthday in January, and her new book, "Star of the Show: My Life on Stage."

During the chat, Parton shrugged off turning 80, saying she feels like she's just "getting started."

She noted: "I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine... I think there's a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, 'I ain't got time to get old!' I ain't got time to dwell on that. That's not what I'm thinking about."

In her newest release, "Star of the Show: My Life on Stage," Parton takes readers on a heartfelt journey through her extraordinary seven-decade career, sharing the wisdom, resilience, and faith that have guided her along the way.

"I'm at that point in my life where I just want to be able to do good things that can be carried on," she shared. "I'm proud of my legacy so far, and I hope to just continue to do things that might be of use to other people."

The country music icon not only revisits her life story in "Star of the Show" but is also preparing to bring her story to Broadway with "Dolly: A True Original Musical," set to premiere in 2026.

Both projects celebrate her one-of-a-kind career and lasting influence, one that continues to inspire a new generation of artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kacey Musgraves, all of whom have built success by redefining what it means to be genre-free.

Parton expressed admiration for all women, especially her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, praising her for trying new things and learning from both successes and failures.

"Some of them work great, some of them don't, but she's learned a lot. If you don't have the nerve to try it, you're never going to know. That's kind of like my philosophy," she said.

Through the highs and lows of fame, Parton credits her faith, determination, and intuition for keeping her grounded.

"I don't try to tell other people how to do it, how to be, but I know who I am," she said. "I'm a star to everybody but me. I'm just a working girl. I always just say that I'm a workhorse that looks like a show horse."

"Star of the Show: My Life on Stage" is available now, offering fans an intimate look at Parton's journey.