EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton Death Fears Erupt as Insiders Say Frail 79-Year-Old ‘Was Just Putting Brave Face on Declining Health’ By Recently Declaring ‘I Don’t Have Time to Grow Old!’

Nov. 21 2025, Published 7:05 p.m. ET Dolly Parton is at the center of fears she’s at death’s door – with insiders telling RadarOnline.com the pint-sized country icon has been putting a brave face on her drastic decline by recently telling the world, “I ain’t got time to get old!” The singer-songwriter, who is set to turn 80 in January, has spent the autumn battling what she has called “health challenges,” prompting a string of canceled appearances from Las Vegas to Tennessee. Health Challenges and Missed Events She was recently forced to accept the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governors Awards via video link, then appeared only virtually again when she was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame for her Dollywood theme park. “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,” she said in her Hall of Fame message. Her absences follow weeks of mounting speculation ignited when her younger sister, Freida, publicly urged fans to pray for her. Insiders close to the pint-sized Jolene singer now say her recent quips about defying age masked deeper concerns. One longtime associate claimed: “She wanted everyone to believe she was powering through, but those of us nearby could see she was struggling. Dolly hates worrying people, but she hasn’t been herself.” Inner Circle’s Bleak Fears Another insider bleakly added: “This could be it for her; many of her inner circle fear she’s at death’s door.” But plucky Parton has been insisting she is on the mend. In an Instagram video filmed at an ad shoot, she chirped, “Do I look sick to you?” and added, “I want you to know that I’m okay!” Yet industry colleagues express severe unease about the state of her health, saying the missed appearances marked a rare break from her trademark stamina. An insider claimed: “Dolly’s the toughest person I know, but the truth is she’s been fragile. She’s pushing hard to stay upbeat, but it hasn’t been an easy season for her.” The iconic singer has revealed a kidney stone-related infection contributed to the postponement of her Las Vegas residency until September 2026, but has otherwise kept details private. Sister’s Emotional Plea Her sister Freida’s emotional appeal on Facebook in early October intensified fans’ alarm over the state of the singer, as she wrote: “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.” Freida later clarified she had not meant to imply her sibling’s condition was dire, and she was only stressing her belief in the “power of prayer.” But insiders say the moment reflected real family worry. Parton herself acknowledged in a recent interview she has had to slow down. “You know, I have just been going so fast my whole life,” she said. “How in the world did I even have a life?” Reflecting on the sacrifices behind her career, she added she was grateful to have “gotten to see my dreams come true.” She also emphasized her refusal to dwell on aging. Parton declared: “People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what?… I say, ‘I ain’t got time to get old!'” The past year has also brought extreme personal strain for the icon. Her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, died in March at 82, a loss friends say deeply affected her. One family source said, “She poured everything into caring for Carl, and afterward her own health took a back seat. That’s catching up with her now… badly.”
https://radaronline.com/p/dolly-parton-death-fears-health-concerns-raised/

Fears For Dolly Parton: Country Icon, 79, Pulls Out of Another High-Profile Event Citing ‘Health Concerns’ as Star Reveals Doctors’ Strict Orders

Nov. 20 2025, Updated 2:22 p.m. ET Dolly Parton has sparked fresh health fears after pulling out of another major event, despite reassuring fans she isn’t “dying.” RadarOnline.com can reveal the country icon, 79, had been due to appear at the Hall of Fame ceremony for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions being held in Orlando, Florida, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood. Video Message However, she accepted the award remotely, sharing a video on social media in which she explained her absence. She said: “Well, hey there, it’s Dolly. “And 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.” She then went on to thank her Dollywood business partners and apologize for not being able to attend the induction. “I’m truly sorry I can’t be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say, thank you for this incredible honour. And to Jack and Peter, hey, thank you for being my partners and my friends for more than 40 years. ‘Sorry I Can’t Be There’ “You’ve been a blessing to me, and I love you dearly. You know, our partnership is truly special. I trust them, and they trust me, and they always listen when I come in with one of my big ideas and dreams.” Just a few days earlier, Parton also accepted an honorary Oscar remotely. On Sunday, she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Accepting the award in another video message recorded at her home in Nashville, she called it a “great honour” and a “blessing of a lifetime.” Last month Parton had to announce the postponement of six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December, which would have marked her first Las Vegas residency since the 1990s. String Of Cancelations However, they have now been rescheduled for September next year. Addressing fans’ concerns about her health, she explained: “Lately everybody thinks I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here. I wanted to put y’all mind at ease, those of you who seem real concerned, which I appreciate. “I appreciate your prayers. I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for everything. I wanted you to know that I’m okay. “I had some problems with my husband Carl when he was very sick. Then when he passed I didn’t take care of myself so I let a lot of things go that I should have taken care of. “So, when I got around to it the doctor said, “We need to take care of this, we need to take care of that.” “Nothing major. But I did have to cancel some things so I can be closer to home where I’m having a few treatments here and there. But I wanted you to know, I’m not dying!” She defiantly added: “I ain’t ready to die yet. God ain’t through with me and I ain’t done working. I love you for caring and keep praying for me.’ However concerns for her well-being intensified after her younger sister, Freida Parton, wrote online that she had been “up all night praying” for her sibling, who “hasn’t been feeling her best lately,” sparking panic from her global fanbase.
https://radaronline.com/p/dolly-parton-79-pulls-out-of-another-high-profile-event-citing-health-concerns-star-reveals-doctors-strict-orders/

Trump’s Cankle Crisis: Prez’s Massive Ankles Steal The Spotlight During Meeting With Canadian Prime Minister… as Health Fears Ramp Up

**Donald Trump’s Swollen ‘Cankles’ Raise Health Concerns During Meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister**

*Published Oct. 8, 2025, 4:46 p.m. ET*

Donald Trump has sparked renewed health concerns due to his visibly swollen ankles—commonly referred to as “cankles”—during his meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday, October 7.

The 79-year-old president made efforts to keep his lower legs out of view behind a table during a lively session with reporters. However, a video shared by one of his own staff members revealed his noticeably enlarged ankles.

### Attempts to Hide Swollen Ankles

While Prime Minister Carney’s legs were fully visible to photographers as he sat beside Trump, most of the press present were positioned at an angle where a wooden coffee table obscured the president’s ankles.

Interestingly, Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor, Margo Martin, offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse via an Instagram Story, showing his swollen ankles beneath a pair of black socks and atop his black dress shoes.

### The Cause Behind Trump’s Cankles

Trump’s swollen ankles have been a persistent issue for the Commander-in-Chief. During an August 25 White House meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, his left ankle appeared significantly swollen and was impossible to hide.

This swelling is the result of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition disclosed in a July White House memo from Dr. Sean P. Barbarella detailing the president’s health.

CVI occurs when the veins in the legs do not function efficiently, leading to decreased blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Common symptoms include swelling and heaviness in the legs, especially after extended periods of sitting or standing.

Dr. Barbarella described CVI as a “benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,” emphasizing that there is no indication of more serious problems such as arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis.

### How Trump Attempts to Conceal His Swollen Ankles

Another method Trump uses to hide his swollen ankles is wearing pants with a looser fit at the bottom. This was visible when he greeted Carney upon his arrival at the White House.

An event planning insider familiar with the White House revealed that Trump prefers intimate settings like the Oval Office for events, where he can remain seated rather than standing for lengthy periods. The iconic Resolute Desk also helps conceal his lower body completely, preventing any photographs of his ankle swelling from circulating.

### Makeup Mishaps Highlight Additional Effects of CVI

In addition to swelling, CVI can cause bruising and skin discoloration. Trump has faced criticism for his attempts to cover black and blue marks on his hands with poorly matched foundation.

During his recent meeting with Carney, the president’s right hand displayed a yellowish hue of concealer that starkly contrasted with the more natural pink tone of his left hand.

Renowned makeup artist Brandi Boulet called out this apparent makeup fail in September, questioning, “How can you be in that position and not have somebody be able to cover a bruise?”

Boulet remarked that Trump’s foundation application looked like “somebody just mashed on some foundation.” She explained her makeup technique, saying, “Skin is not just one color. There are undertones. You can see blues from veins, reds from capillaries, and even beauty marks. It’s a matter of layering in a way that matches what you’ve just covered to what the rest of your skin looks like, instead of just doing a circle of one color.”

Donald Trump’s ongoing struggle with chronic venous insufficiency continues to be a visible health concern, with his swollen ankles and skin discoloration drawing public and media attention despite efforts to conceal these symptoms.
https://radaronline.com/p/donald-trump-cankles-meeting-canada-prime-minister-health-dementia-concerns/

Trump’s Cankle Crisis: Prez’s Massive Ankles Steal The Spotlight During Meeting With Canadian Prime Minister… as Health Fears Ramp Up

**Donald Trump’s Swollen Cankles Raise Health Concerns During Meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister**

*Published October 8, 2025, 4:46 p.m. ET*

Donald Trump has sparked renewed health concerns due to his visibly swollen cankles while meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House. RadarOnline.com can reveal that during the October 7 meeting, the 79-year-old president made efforts to keep his lower legs out of view, but a video from one of his own staff showed his notably enlarged ankles.

### Attempts to Hide Swollen Ankles

While Mark Carney’s legs were clearly visible to photographers as he sat next to Trump, the majority of the press were positioned at an angle where a wooden coffee table obstructed the president’s ankles from view. However, Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor, Margo Martin, shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse via an Instagram Story, revealing his swollen cankles beneath a pair of black socks and black dress shoes.

### The Cause Behind Trump’s Cankles

Trump’s swollen ankles have been a recurring issue. He was unable to conceal them during an August 25 White House meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, where his left ankle appeared notably swollen.

Medical experts have linked the condition to Trump’s chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), as disclosed in a July White House health memo from Dr. Sean P. Barbarella. CVI occurs when leg veins fail to efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart, leading to symptoms such as swelling and heaviness in the legs, particularly after prolonged sitting or standing.

Dr. Barbarella described CVI as a “benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,” adding that there is no evidence of more serious issues such as arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis.

### How Trump Attempts to Conceal His Swollen Ankles

Aside from strategically sitting behind furniture, Trump also uses clothing choices to hide his swollen ankles. During the meeting with Carney, a baggier fit at the bottom of his pant legs was noticeable, helping to obscure the enlarged area.

According to an insider familiar with event planning at the White House, Trump prefers more intimate settings like the Oval Office for official events, where he can sit rather than stand for long periods. This setting and the use of the Resolute Desk are effective in hiding his lower body and preventing photographs that would highlight the swelling.

### Makeup Mishaps Highlight Skin Discoloration

CVI can also cause bruising and skin discoloration. Trump’s attempts to cover the black and blue marks on his hands with foundation have drawn criticism for poor application.

During the recent meeting with Carney, the president’s right hand showed a distinct yellowish concealer contrasting sharply with the natural pink tone of his left hand.

Makeup artist Brandi Boulet publicly called out these “makeup fails” in September, questioning, “How can you be in that position and not have somebody be able to cover a bruise?” She described the coverage as looking like “somebody just mashed on some foundation.”

Boulet explained the complexity of covering bruises professionally, noting the importance of layering multiple shades to match skin undertones and discolorations rather than applying a single flat color. “Skin is not just one color. There’s undertones. You can see blues in there from veins. You can see red from the capillaries. You also have beauty marks. So it’s a matter of layering in a way that matches what you’ve just covered to what the rest of your skin looks like,” she said.

While no quick fixes exist for swollen ankles, Trump’s health challenges have once again come under scrutiny as he continues his public duties.
https://radaronline.com/p/donald-trump-cankles-meeting-canada-prime-minister-health-dementia-concerns/