Dolly Parton addresses 'health challenges' after being forced to miss awards show

Dolly Parton has issued a health update to her fans after she was forced to miss out on several high-profile gigs in recent months.

The country music legend, 79, who co-owns the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was due to attend a ceremony earlier this week to celebrate her induction into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Hall of Fame.

However, doctors advised the singer not to travel due to an unspecified health complaint, leading to her sharing a video about the situation on Instagram.

“I sure wish I could be with you in person today, but you probably heard that I’ve been dealing with a few health challenges this fall, and my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while,” Parton said in the video.

“I’m truly sorry I can’t be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say thank you for this incredible honor.”

It isn’t the only gig the Jolene singer missed, either, as she was also forced to pull out of receiving an honorary Oscar at the 16th annual Academy Governors’ Awards just one day prior to the announcement.

Speculation has been rife about Parton’s health since early September, when she cancelled a string of performances in Las Vegas due to what she described as 'health challenges'.

Although the finer details still remain a mystery, Parton did reveal that medics had advised her she '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!” she quipped.

Further fuel was added to the fire a month later, when Parton’s sister Freida asked people to pray for the singer on Facebook, a move which forced the country singer to finally address the claims.

“I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am,” Parton said in her video, “Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!”

“Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate and I appreciate your prayers,” she went on, “because I’m a person of faith.”

Dolly Parton has suffered a number of health challenges this year (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Staying in Nashville, Parton has been attending the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she has been undergoing 'a few treatments here and there'.

She has yet to reveal the nature of these treatments, beyond assuring fans that she is fine.

As per the video, Parton revealed that she had put off a lot of her longstanding health complaints in order to care for her husband Carl Dean, who sadly passed away in March at the age of 82.

“I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of,” she explained.

She did however clarify that her condition was nothing ‘major’ for fans to be concerned with.

“There’s just a lot of rumors flying around,” she said. “But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK.”

“I’m not ready to die yet,” she concluded, “and I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring and keep praying for me.”