Reba McEntire is no stranger to surviving death hoaxes. That's precisely why the country music icon—who swiftly quashed rumors of her own supposed demise back in 2012—lauded her longtime friend, Dolly Parton, for doing the same after an AI-generated photograph surfaced, depicting Reba at the purported deathbed of the "9 to 5" star. "You tell 'em, Dolly," Reba exclaimed in an October 9th video posted to her Instagram. "That AI nonsense has got us all doing the craziest things."
Displaying another AI-fabricated image of herself clutching a sonogram alongside fiancé Rex Linn, the 70-year-old continued with a chuckle, "You're out there dying, and I'm out here having a baby. Well, we both know you're far too young, and I'm far too old for any of that baloney." Still, Reba expressed her unwavering support for Dolly, especially after the 79-year-old confirmed she would be taking a hiatus to address health concerns she had postponed in the aftermath of her husband Carl Dean's passing earlier that year. "I'm praying for you," the "Happy's Place" star added warmly in her message to Dolly. "I love you with all my heart, and I can't wait to see you soon."
Indeed, Dolly is very much alive and thriving. The 11-time Grammy winner swiftly dispelled rumors of her failing health on October 8th, stating in a video shared across her social media platforms, "Everyone seems to think I'm sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you?" "Back when my husband Carl was gravely ill for an extended period, and then after he passed away, I neglected to take care of myself," she explained. "I let a lot of things slide that I should have attended to. When I finally got around to it, the doctor said we need to address this, we need to take care of that—nothing major, but I did have to cancel some engagements so I could stay closer to home."
Noting that she's still "working hard," Dolly added with a twinkle in her eye, "But I wanted you all to know that I’m not on my way out."
