Dolly Parton, a name synonymous with country music, business acumen, and Southern charm, has captivated audiences for over seven decades. Beyond her musical talent, Parton's openness about her health, diet, and body image has made her a relatable figure for many. This article delves into Parton's approach to food, her recent health updates, and her perspective on body positivity.
Dolly's Southern-Inspired Diet
Parton's Southern roots extend beyond her music and into her cooking. She openly admits to enjoying "good, hearty food." Potatoes hold a special place in her diet. “I have to have something with potatoes,” Parton tells TODAY.com. “I mean, I’m just one of those people that I have to either have a baked potato, some mashed potatoes, or some french fries, or something to do with potatoes.”
Her love for Southern cuisine inspired her to create single-serve frozen meals, offering fans a taste of her favorite dishes. Parton recalls, “When I used to travel on my bus, I would start cooking a few days before so I would have good food that I was going to be craving when I’m out on the road, when you don’t always find what you want. I would always have things like that in my freezer on my bus.”
The line of frozen meals features Southern favorites like beef pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and country fried steak, all priced affordably. A peach cobbler is also available, with Parton emphasizing its generous portion sizes. “These are just rich and hearty, and just got all the seasoning in the world. We just wanted to have things that would be easy to freeze, easy to serve and really stay tasty.” Dolly Parton says her new frozen meals are "not bland."“I hate bland frozen foods. So this is not bland,” Parton continues, explaining that she was involved in the tasting process, instructing the kitchen to add “a little more butter or a little more salt or a little more pepper” where needed.She emphasizes that her frozen meals are "the kind of stuff you crave," reminiscent of family meals and comforting flavors. “Whatever you grew up with - if you had a family of love and you loved grandmas and you loved mama and your aunts that made all that good food, you’re going to want to eat that,” Parton says. “That was another thing that inspired the idea of having just good, tasty, hearty Southern food be frozen.”
Parton's partnership with Conagra extends to Duncan Hines, where she has collaborated on cake mixes, frosting, brownies, biscuits, pancakes, and muffins, all with a Southern twist. In September, Parton released a cookbook, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’,” with her sister, Rachel Parton George. The siblings shared “a year of meals” at the time.
Read also: Self-discovery in Alderton's writings
Addressing Health Concerns
In late September, Dolly postponed her December Las Vegas concerts to September 2026, citing health challenges. “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,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “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 assured fans that she wasn't "quittin' the business" but needed to slow down to prepare for future endeavors.
Following the announcement, Parton's sister, Freida, asked fans to pray for the singer, leading to widespread concern. Freida later clarified that she didn't intend to cause alarm, explaining that Dolly was "a little under the weather." Dolly’s rep, Olly Rowland, told The Las Vegas Review-Journal that the singer is fine, she’s just still recovering from the kidney stone infection that caused her “a lot of problems” and made her miss a Dollywood event in mid-September. “It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those,” Rowland texted the outlet. “It looks like her sister posted, and it got quite a bit blown out of proportion, weirdly.”
Dolly addressed fans directly on Instagram, assuring them that she was okay. “I wanted to say I know lately everybody thinks I am sicker than I am-do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here-anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease. Everybody seems real concerned, which I appreciate,” she said in the video. “I want you to know that I’m okay. I’m having some problems that I mentioned back when my husband, Carl, was sick. That was for a long time. And when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of. So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctors said we need to take care of this; we need to take care of that. So nothing major. But, I did have to cancel some things, so I can be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there. But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying,” she said, before addressing the “AI” generated photos making the rounds online of the star on her deathbed, with Reba McIntire standing over her. She clarified that she was dealing with minor health issues that required treatment but emphasized, “I am not ready to die yet. 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.”
Body Image and Confidence
Parton has been candid about her body image struggles and her journey towards self-acceptance. She once recalled a time when she "had lost a lot of confidence because I had also gained weight and any time you don't look good, you don't feel as good about yourself."
She recounts receiving advice from Sylvester Stallone, who encouraged her to adopt healthier eating habits. "And he'd tell me, 'You've got to stop eating white bread and processed stuff,' and I'd say, 'But I'm a country girl!'" Parton told the outlet. Parton, who swears fried chicken is the key to a successful marriage, added that she exercises "just enough to get by" and happens to own "some high-heeled sneakers."
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Parton's approach to fitness is moderate, focusing on maintaining a balance. “So, I finally said, 'Get off your fat ass and do something about it!'" Parton continued.
She has also expressed concern about the pressures faced by young girls to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. "I really worry a lot about young girls today because they think they have to look like the models or the people on television.
The "Dolly Parton Diet"
The "Dolly Parton Diet," rumored to involve eating primarily cabbage soup, has circulated for years. Claims suggested it could lead to significant weight loss in a short period. However, the diet's origin traces back to a magazine article featuring "TJ's Miracle Soup," recommended by a member of Dolly's band. While it's unclear if Parton strictly followed the diet, she has admitted to trying various weight loss approaches. After all, “I tried every diet in the book, I tried some that weren’t in the book.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?