Dolly Parton has another major honor to add to her legendary career, though she couldn’t be in Nashville to accept it in person.

The country music icon, 80, received the Poet’s Award at the 19th ACM Honors at The Pinnacle on Wednesday, August 19. Parton appeared by video for the ceremony, just days after telling fans that health issues had prevented her from traveling.In her wholesome prerecorded message, Parton thanked the Academy of Country Music before reflecting on the role songwriting has played throughout her life. “I just want to send a very special thank you to the Academy of Country Music for honoring me with the Poet’s Award,” Parton said in the video.“You know, I’ve been able to do many things throughout my life, but at my core, songwriting has always been the most important part of who I am creatively.”

She continued, “Every dream I ever had and all the dreams that I’ve been able to see come true in life, well, they all started with a song. Songwriting has been my therapy. Songwriting has been my release, my joy. Songwriting has been a gift from God that has allowed me to touch people with words and music.”

Parton’s virtual appearance came five days after she skipped the Friday, August 14, grand opening of Dollywood’s new NightFlight Expedition ride.“I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I’ve had a few little health issues and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated. And I’m dehydrated,” she explained in a video shown at the event.

Parton said her Nashville doctor had “kind of clipped my wings,” telling her not to travel that week. Still, she reassured fans that “all is going well on the medical end of things.”