'I ain't dead yet!': AI images of Dolly Parton on deathbed trigger response from country star
Widespread panic about the beloved singer's health was sparked after her sister asked for prayers
Fans of Dolly Parton went into a tailspin earlier this week when her sister Freida Parton asked for prayers for the country music star who was battling health issues.
In a post on Facebook, Freida said: “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 lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”
Despite the singer’s sister saying “I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine”, the outlook appeared to worsen further when Freida ended her post: “Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
The Facebook post sparked dozens of news reports while fans feared Dolly’s health situation was serious. Tributes flooded social media, as did AI-generated imaginings of Dolly Parton on her deathbed, being visited by tearful fellow country star Reba McEntire.
It’s not the first time similar images of Dolly and Reba has been shared. Over the summer, AI-generated videos were published by apparent country music pages on Facebook, which asked users to click on links for more details. The links were for fake news websites dedicated to targeting country fans, similar to those that involved Morgan Wallen and the Texas floods this year.
These websites often use AI-generated content to farm engagement and generate clicks, by pulling on the heartstrings of devoted fans.
A reverse image search on one of the pictures of Dolly and Reba revealed just how many similar emotionally-charged images have been generated, showing Dolly in bed as Reba and other stars pray tearfully nearby.
‘I’m not ready to die yet!’
However, all was not as it seemed. Just 10 hours after her first Facebook post, sister Freida Parton was back with another:
“I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly. She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
The wave of fake content then prompted a video from Dolly herself to correct the record, in which she said she “ain’t dead yet” and directly referenced the AI-generated images while sitting on a set in front of a green screen.
“I wanna say something. Well, today’s October the 8th and obviously I’m here, doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry … But before I got started, I wanted to say I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!
“I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seemed to be real concerned, which I appreciate. And I appreciate your prayers, ‘cos 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. I’ve got some problems as I mentioned. Back when my husband Carl was very sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of.
“So anyway, 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 could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kinda having a few treatments here and there.
“But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”
The 79-year-old went on to say: “Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Ooh Lordy, I mean, they had Reba at my deathbed, and we both looked like we need to be buried. And I thought ‘Oh my Lord!’
“If I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one at my deathbed. She might come and visit me earlier, but anyway, there are just a lot of rumours flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK.”
SOURCES
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Facebook.com. (2016). Video. [online] Available at: BREAKING & HEARTBREAKING: Just 15 minutes ago in Tennessee — Reba McEntire fought back tears as she delivered a chilling message about Dolly Parton… [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
Facebook.com. (2016). Video. [online] Available at: VERY SAD NEWS: 12 minutes ago in Tennessee, USA — At 79, Reba McEntire broke down in tears as she shared an urgent message with her followers that Dolly Parton is currently… [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
Facebook.com. (2016). Facebook. [online] Available at: “I Don’t Know If I Have the Strength to Sing Anymore…” – Dolly Parton Hints at Possible Permanent Retirement” [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
Flannery, M. (2025). Morgan Wallen $30 Million Texas Flood Donation Debunked. [online] Spotlight.ebu.ch. [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
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Instagram. (2017). Dolly Parton on Instagram: ‘I ain’t dead yet!’ [online] [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].