{
  "id": 1707856,
  "title": "Dolly Parton Apologizes For Missing Dollywood Attraction Opening Amid Ongoing Health Issues, Says Doctor ‘Kinda Clipped My Wings’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/dolly-parton-apologizes-for-missing-dollywood-attraction-opening-amid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T12:41:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dolly-parton-sorry-missing-dollywood-ride-open-health-issues-1236318609/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dolly Parton was absent from the opening of the new NightFlight Expedition ride at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee on August 14 due to ongoing health problems. However, the 80-year-old country star did issue an apology through a personal video message. In the clip, Parton, dressed with colorful butterfly wings, expressed her presence albeit \"sorta,\" as she was in Nashville. She attributed her absence to unspecified health issues, revealing that she gets \"a little dizzy\" and dehydrated, which her doctor advised her to avoid traveling. The singer reassured fans and Dollywood president Eugene Naughton that she would see them \"down the road.\" Parton has been out of the spotlight since announcing the postponement of her Las Vegas residency in September for undisclosed medical procedures. She made a rare appearance in March to deliver a keynote address for Dollywood's 41st anniversary.",
  "summary": "The 80-year-old country icon said she'd been feeling dizzy and dehydrated before her medical team suggested she not travel this week.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dolly Parton missed NightFlight Expedition opening on August 14 due to health issues.",
    "Country star apologized via video, attributing absence to dizziness and dehydration.",
    "Parton reassured fans of future appearance, recovering from undisclosed medical procedures."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}