Country music legend Dolly Parton has announced that she is postponing her planned Las Vegas concert residency, originally scheduled for December 2025, citing “health challenges” that will require medical procedures and prevent her from properly preparing the performances. In a message shared on social media, Parton explained that her doctors have advised her to undergo “a few procedures” a phrase she delivered with characteristic wit by calling it her “100,000-mile check-up,” though she emphasized it was not cosmetic surgery. She noted that because of the medical treatments and recovery time, she would not be able to rehearse and put together the kind of show that she and her fans would want. Originally, the six-night “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas” show was to run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace from December 4 through December 13, 2025, coinciding with the National Finals Rodeo. With the postponement, those dates are being moved to September 2026, with the new run scheduled from September 17 to September 26. Ticket holders will have the option to transfer their tickets to the new dates or request refunds. Despite the delay, Parton was careful to reassure fans she is not retiring. She stated that while she believes she is being told by “God” to slow down for now, she still has plans and projects she wants to pursue.

Though Parton has not fully detailed the nature of her health issues, there’s context that helps explain why the postponement came now. Earlier in September 2025, she missed a scheduled appearance at Dollywood, where she was to reveal a new ride, because she was suffering from a kidney stone that led to an infection. In a video to fans, she explained that her doctor told her she didn’t need to travel while recovering. Some observers believe that the kidney stone incident may be connected to or part of the broader “health challenges” she cited, though Parton did not explicitly confirm that link in her statement. It’s worth noting that the upcoming Las Vegas run would have been her first extended residency there in over three decades. Parton has kept active in recent years with musical projects, a stage musical about her life, and collaborations, even as she has faced personal challenges including the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025. Fan reaction has largely been sympathetic, with many expressing concern and well-wishes on social media. Media coverage has emphasized her age (she is 79) and the physical demands of mounting a concert residency, especially one involving multiple nights of performance and elaborate staging. Analysts suggest that the postponement is a prudent move: instead of rushing into a major production while compromised by health, Parton is buying time to recover and ensure she can deliver a performance up to her standards. The fact that she maintains other creative work in the meantime signals she intends this delay to be temporary and strategic rather than a retreat from the stage. Looking ahead, fans and industry watchers will be watching to see what specific procedures she undergoes, how her recovery goes, and whether any further adjustments will be needed. If all goes well, the new September 2026 dates may represent a triumphant return rather than a setback.