Lorraine Kelly has admitted she was 'worried' when she heard that Dolly Parton was ill and insisted that the 'world cannot continue' without the country music legend
11:12, 08 Oct 2025
Lorraine Kelly has admitted she was 'worried' when she heard that Dolly Parton was ill. The country music legend, 79, had to postpone her upcoming Las Vegas residency over health concerns and then her younger sibling Freida sent fans into a frenzy after writing on social media that she was "up all night praying" for Dolly.
One of those fans was Lorraine, and as the TV presenter was back in her usual slot hosting her eponymous ITV daytime show on Wednesday, she was joined by Rishi Davda, she revealed how she reacted when she heard the news. She said firmly: "Now look, I am worried about Dolly."
The Jolene singer then hit back at her sister's claims and told fans via her manager that she had just need to undergo a procedure to resolve kidney stones, and claimed that Freida's post had been 'quite a bit blown out of proportion'. Speaking about this, Lorraine admitted: "And the world breathed a sigh of relief."
She went on: "The world cannot continue without Dolly in it, if we're honest. She's the best thing in the world!" Rishi then reassured her that the residency is set to take place in the future, once the former Hannah Montana star has had time to recover. Lorraine added: "Dolly has to look after Dolly and we all must look after Dolly the best we can."
Freida, one of Dolly's five sisters among her 11 siblings, triggered worries after her Facebook post where she stated: “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”
After Rowland's comments, Freida went back on Facebook to diffuse the online outburst of love.
“I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious,” Freida added “She’s been a little under the weather and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
It comes after Dolly said God was 'telling her to slow down' after her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died aged 82 in March this year.
Announcing the postponement of what would have been her first Vegas residency in more than 30 years, Jolene singer Dolly wrote on Instagram on September 29: “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures.
“As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.
“In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see. You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.
“Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But I believe he is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
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