{
  "id": 2742562,
  "title": "Dolly Parton Says She’s Exploring ‘Avatar Performances’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/dolly-parton-says-shes-exploring-avatar-performances",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-23T07:07:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dolly-parton-health-update-1236322526/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dolly Parton has revealed that her team is in the initial stages of discussions with companies specializing in \"avatar performances.\" The 80-year-old singer, who has been dealing with health issues, explained that this venture is still in its early development. Although Parton did not provide further details about these performances, she acknowledged that they are not as simple as she initially thought. She reflected on past health challenges, including a period of illness in the early 1980s, and noted that public scrutiny has intensified due to the era of 24/7 social media. Despite these difficulties, Parton expressed her continued willingness to work, emphasizing that her spirit remains resilient. The announcement came after several postponements of her appearances, including the cancellation of a Las Vegas residency and virtual engagements at the Academy of Country Music's Poet's Award and Dollywood's NightFlight Expedition ride dedication. Parton has not toured in person since 2016, stating that she needed time to heal both spiritually and physically while managing her health concerns.",
  "summary": "\"I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,\" Parton said.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dolly Parton exploring avatar performances with specialized companies.",
    "80-year-old singer facing health issues and intensified public scrutiny.",
    "Multiple postponements of appearances, including Las Vegas residency and virtual engagements."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Dolly Parton's exploration of avatar performances signals a potential shift in how she manages her career amid ongoing health issues and intensified public scrutiny in the social media era.",
  "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."
}