Dolly Parton makes end of life admission as she reflects on health issues

Dolly Parton made a poignant admission about ageing as she prepares to turn 80. The 9 to 5 hitmaker was interviewed by People magazine after the tragic death of her husband Carl Dean earlier this year, and after facing her own health battle as her sister made a public plea for prayers.

Dolly told the publication: "People say, 'Well, you're going to be 80 years old'. Well, so what? Look at all I've done in 80 years. I feel like i'm just getting started. I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine..."

She added: "I think there's a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, 'I ain't got time to get old!' I ain't got time to dwell on that. That's not what I'm thinking about."

The Jolene singer clapped back at rumours she was on her deathbed on Instagram, telling fans: "I ain't dead yet! Do I look sick to you?"

Dolly was battling kidney stones, which are being "dealt with" by health professionals. Her sister Freida begged fans to pray for Dolly, but the singer confessed she doesn't need them.

She said last month: "Well, today's October 8 and obviously I'm here... Do I look sick to you? I wanted to put everybody's mind at ease, those that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate - and I appreciate your prayers, because 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 okay.

"I've got some problems, as I've 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 have been taking care of... nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home."

She said: "I'm not dying! There's just a lot of rumours flying around."