Dolly Parton has dispelled fears about her health, writing: "I ain't dead yet!".

The country music legend reassured fans she was alive and well in a new social media post.

"I ain't dead yet!" Dolly, 79, wrote, captioning a video of herself taken on the set of a commercial shoot.

"I want to say something," she said, directly into the camera. "Well, today's October the eighth and obviously, I'm here!"

She added the rumours of her ill health were greatly exaggerated.

"I know lately everybody thinks I'm sicker than I am," Dolly said. "Do I look sick to you?! I'm workin' hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everyone's mind at ease, those of you that seemed to be real concerned, which I appreciate, and I appreciate your prayers because I'm a person of faith and I can always use the prayers for anything and everything."

She explained she had finally taken the time lately to address health concerns she had let slide after the death in March of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean.

"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," Dolly shared.

"So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctors said 'we need to take care of this' and 'we need to take care of that'. Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things."