Dolly Parton Misses Dollywood Roller Coaster Opening Due To Health Issues

August 17, 2026 5:52 am Published by

Dolly Parton was unable to attend the opening of Dollywood’s new NightFlight Expedition roller coaster Friday, joining the celebration virtually instead.

The 80-year-old adressed the crowd via video.

“I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that. My doctor clipped my wings, saying ‘you ain’t traveling this week.'”

Parton cited dizziness and dehydration as current symptoms.

The absence follows her May announcement canceling a planned tour, previously postponed from 2025 to September 2026.

She has dealt with kidney stones and issues with her immune and digestive systems. “I have great doctors, and I’m doing really well,” she reassured fans.

@knoxnews

Dolly Parton welcomed the first riders of Dollywood’s newest coaster, just not in the way that she had hoped. Dollywood celebrated the launch of NightFlight Expedition on Aug. 14 with a dedication ceremony in the park’s Celebrity Theater. Parton – who has been dealing with health issues for nearly a year – originally had been scheduled to appear at the event but had to cancel the day before. Instead, she shared her excitement for the new attraction via video and explained why she unfortunately had to miss the occasion. Read more through the link in bio. #DollyParton #Dollywood #themeparks

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This post was written by Cheryl Johnstone