what happened to dolly parton today

Today, Dolly Parton did not appear at Dollywood as was originally planned for the announcement of the park's new 2026 attraction. The cancellation was confirmed by Dollywood's official Instagram, citing a change in her schedule as the reason, but no specific details were provided. Despite her absence, the media event announcing the new ride went ahead as scheduled today. In 2025, Dolly Parton has been navigating a difficult period following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March after nearly 60 years of marriage. She has been taking a break from songwriting and public appearances as she processes her grief. This context may relate to her absence from the Dollywood event today, though no official explanation was given for the cancellation. Dolly Parton remains a beloved figure associated closely with Dollywood, the theme park she helped develop since the 1980s. The park continues to operate and announced the 2026 attraction project without her presence today.