Dolly Parton has no plans on slowing down anytime soon.
The 79-year-old music icon recently experienced health issues that caused her to postpone her Las Vegas residency, sending fans across the world into a spin.
But in a new interview, she’s opened up about what’s next and joked her age isn’t about to get in the way of anything because she’s “just getting started”.
“People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what?” Parton, 79, told People.
“Look at all I’ve done in 80 years. I feel like I’m just getting started.
“I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine… I think there’s a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, ‘I ain’t got time to get old!’ I ain’t got time to dwell on that. That’s not what I’m thinking about.”
Instead of focusing on her age, the 9 to 5 hitmaker is looking at how far she’s actually come in her career.
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She admitted that she knew she had to “keep going” in the early days of her music career.
Parton admitted that she couldn’t be the girl singer for Porter forever, “because God had a bigger purpose for me, and I had bigger dreams of my own”.
But despite her positivity now, things didn’t look so great for the Jolene singer a couple of months ago.
In September, she shared the shock news that she was going to postpone her Las Vegas residency due to “health challenges”.
She shared the news on Instagram, adding that she had to undergo a “few procedures” per her doctor’s orders.
Speculation that things were worse than Parton was letting on ramped up when her sister Freida Parton, 68, shared a public Facebook post that said she was “up all night praying for my sister”.
“I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me,” the post continued.
Days later Parton responded, and proved that there was no need for alarm.
In a short clip shared from set, filming commercials for Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, the singer confirmed she was definitely not on her death bed and was fine.
”I’m not ready to die yet,” she told fans in a clip on Instagram.
She addressed online concerns by asking fans with a laugh “Do I look sick to you?” as she appeared in full hair and make-up in a country and western inspired outfit, sitting in front of a green screen.
“Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease,” she told fans.
“Those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate, and I appreciate your prayers, because I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for anything and everything, but I want you to know that I’m OK.”
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