Here’s where it gets weird—and a little science-y. Dolly was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome a few years ago. Say it with me: SHOW-grins. It’s an autoimmune disorder where your body attacks your moisture-producing glands.
So, dry eyes. Dry mouth. Joint pain. Basically, your body forgets how to lubricate itself. How unfair is that for someone who sings for a living? Dolly said in an interview, “My throat gets so dry sometimes I feel like I’m swallowing sandpaper.” Can you imagine trying to hit those high notes in “Jolene” with sandpaper in your throat? No, thank you.
The kicker? She has to drink a ton of water on stage. Which means she also has to pee a ton backstage. Timing is everything, folks. She once told a reporter, “I’ve got a pee schedule now. Ain’t glamorous, but it works.”
Dolly Parton health: 'Queen of Country' on her 'all over health
And Then There’s the Weight
Let’s be real: Dolly has never been a size zero. She’s famously curvy, and she owns it. But in 2026, she opened up about her weight fluctuating because of her back pain and the steroids she takes for inflammation.
Steroids are horrible little pills. They make you puffy. They mess with your sleep. They can make you feel like a grumpy potato. Dolly said, “I look in the mirror and think, ‘Well, honey, you’ve got a little more tummy today.’” She doesn’t stress about it. She just orders her costumes slightly roomier. Iconic.
She also quit drinking alcohol completely. Not because of a scandal—she just decided it didn’t make her feel good anymore. Power move.
