The incredible 76-year-old country music legend Dolly Parton is a name we all know and love. She’s made a mark not just in music but in our hearts, giving joy to countless fans.
But hold on to your hats, folks, because Dolly just shared some news. While she’s not saying goodbye to making music (phew!), she’s taking a break from touring. In a recent chat, Dolly spilled the beans:
“I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then. Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore.”
Yep, you heard it right. Dolly, the gal who conquered a tough start in the Appalachian Mountains to become a shining star, won’t be rocking stages like before.
So, while we’ll miss her twirls and tunes on tour, at least we can still expect some Dolly magic through her new music. What a ride it’s been!
At a sprightly 76, the iconic figure in country music has decided to shift her focus. Dolly Parton, the legend herself, will be channeling her energy into recording music and cherishing moments with her loving husband, Carl Thomas Dean, rather than hitting the road for tours.
Their love story kicked off in 1964 in Nashville, Tennessee, right in front of the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Dolly, a mere 18 years old at the time, caught the eye of 21-year-old Carl. And boy, did he feel something special.
Looking back, Carl shared, “My first thought was, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.’ My second thought was, ‘Lord, she’s good lookin’.’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for anything on this earth.”
Dolly, in a chat with the New York Times back in 1976, remembered the moment when Carl, sitting in his pickup truck, hollered at her. Ah, love at first holler!
At first, she said no to his date invitation, but a few days later, while babysitting her nephew, she thought, “Why not?” That decision kicked off a love story for the ages.
Fast forward to May 1966, and Dolly and Carl decided to say “I do” in a quiet ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. Despite her record label urging them to delay the wedding because of her growing career, Dolly and Carl were all in. They kept it simple, with only Dolly, Carl, and her mom in attendance.
Since that big day, their love has only grown stronger. Come 2016, they celebrated their 50th anniversary by renewing their vows. A real testament to true love, right?
Now, with Dolly taking a breather from tours, they’ve got more quality time ahead. In a chat with Pollstar, Dolly spilled the beans on why she’s slowing down:
“I’ve been on the road my whole life, and it demands so much time and energy. I’d rather stay closer to home with my husband. We’re at a stage in life where being away for weeks at a time doesn’t sit right with me,” said Dolly.
She added, “Something could happen. I wouldn’t feel right if I were away and someone needed me. Or I’d feel awful if I had to leave a tour because someone back home needed my help, and then I’d have to disappoint the fans.”
Dolly also spilled the beans that her recent musical adventures are all about rock n’ roll, a music style her husband absolutely adores. Fun fact: this May, Dolly got nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rock on, Dolly!
“When I received the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, I thought, ‘Well, there’s no better time to do it.’ It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. My husband’s a big hard rock ‘n’ roll fan, and for years I’ve thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to put together an album mainly for him, just as a little something special.'”
Lately, Dolly’s been caught up in her new NBC special, “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas,” that hit the screens on December 1st. And, of course, she’s been putting in the hours on her upcoming album.
“It’s like a show within a show. We’re focusing on the dramatic side. It’s showing all the behind-the-scenes action that happens while you’re putting together a show. All the debates with producers, the challenges with artists, the mishaps with scenery falling down, and all the things that go on backstage. I wouldn’t call it acting, because I’m just completely myself in this. It’s all Dolly, no character play.”
On another exciting note, Dolly is joining forces with the actor-turned-producer Reese Witherspoon for the upcoming movie “Run, Rose, Run,” based on the book of the same name co-written by Witherspoon and James Patterson.
Dolly Parton’s Health: Dolly Parton has always embodied resilience and strength for many of us. But as we’ve seen, she has her own reasons for scaling back on extensive tours. When you consider what she’s been through, it all becomes clear.
In the 1980s, Dolly faced health challenges, collapsing on stage in Indianapolis at 35 due to endometriosis. Despite her doctor’s advice for a break, she pushed through but later postponed tour dates and had a partial hysterectomy. This experience taught her the importance of listening to her body and taking care of her health.
Reflecting on that time, she said, “I was getting away with murder. I wasn’t watching what I ate, I wasn’t mindful of nutrition, I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was working hard, and underneath, I was a mess of personal and emotional issues.”
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