Dolly Parton has said she is exploring “avatar performances”.
The country icon has previously opened up about dealing with health issues, and now she’s revealed that her struggles have led to her working on new ways to perform for fans in the future.
In a new interview with People, Parton shared that she and her team have been collaborating with companies who create “avatar performances”. Though she didn’t expand on exactly the kind of avatars, she shared that the ideas are still in the “early stages of development”.
It follows the recent news that there will be an AI avatar of Ozzy Osbourne. That announcement was, however, met with backlash from fans calling it a “cash grab”, to which Sharon Osbourne has since responded, telling critics she “doesn’t need your fucking money”.
Both of them confirmed that the family had enlisted tech company Hyperreal to create the digital version of the heavy metal pioneer – who passed away last summer, aged 76 – but the move was quick to divide fans, with some calling it distasteful.
Amid the scepticism, Jack spoke about the plans on his YouTube channel and said that they were focused on keeping it “tasteful” and determined to make sure it wasn’t “lame”.
As for Dolly Parton, the singer – who now ranks among the most popular public figures in America – also shared a health update with fans amid ongoing issues in the wake of her late husband’s passing.
The country icon was married to Carl Dean for 58 years before his death last March, and has been open about how her grief has also impacted her physical health, saying she felt “worn down and worn out” earlier this year.
Parton was forced to cancel her upcoming Vegas residency back in May. She had initially postponed a run of shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in October, saying at the time that she had been facing several ”health challenges” and would not be able to complete rehearsals in time.
After postponing them last October, Parton’s sister Freida sparked fears when she posted on social media, asking fans to keep Dolly in their prayers.
“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 led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me,” she wrote.
In a follow-up post, Freida clarified her original statement, saying she “didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly.”
Parton herself posted a video to reassure fans a few days later. “I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am,” she said in a video from the set of a Grand Ole Opry commercial. “Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here.”
In March, she made her first public appearance in several months, delivering a keynote speech at Dollywood. “I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” she added, noting the loss of her husband Carl Dean, who she was married to for 58 years before his death last March.
“I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
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