Dolly Parton Admitted Her Many Projects Make Her Want to Take a Step Back: ‘I’m Sick of Dolly, Ain’t You?’
With one of the more prolific careers in music history, it seems like Dolly Parton can do it all. She has an expansive music catalog, an acting career, and a series of business investments. She’s done so much that she’s getting tired of hearing about herself. Parton explained why she feels this way and what she plans to do about it.
Dolly Parton’s music career has spanned over 50 years
In 1964, Parton graduated from high school and moved to Nashville the following day. From there, she very quickly met her husband and signed a record deal. By 1967, she’d joined The Porter Wagoner Show and began recording songs with Wagoner. As a duo, the pair was successful, and Parton soon began seeing advancements in her solo career.
Parton later forayed into a film career with parts in 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias. She is also the co-owner of the Dollywood Company, which runs a theme park, water park, dinner theater, and resort in her native Tennessee.
The pandemic saw the country superstar get involved with even more projects
Parton’s warm presence throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to Billboard calling her the “comforter-in-chief.” The title is a fitting one. She donated $1 million to vaccine research, recorded bedtime stories for children (and tired parents), and featured frontline workers in the music video for her song “When Life Is Good Again.” She was a balm in a challenging time.
Parton was also busy creating her Emmy-winning film Christmas on the Square, overseing 9 to 5: The Musical in London, and releasing her book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. Clearly, Parton has been busy. And while she’s a welcome presence for many, Parton explained that she’s growing tired of herself.
“I’m sick of Dolly, ain’t you?” she joked to The New York Times. “With all the stuff coming out, it’s like, if I hear one more product, one more story, one more thing about Dolly Parton … I think, ‘Well, maybe I better hang it up for a while next year.’”
Her manager Danny Nozell explained that this actually is part of their strategy. To avoid a Dolly overload, they’ve planned to pull back a bit in 2021.
Dolly Parton doesn’t think she’ll ever retire
Despite this plan, fans have no need to worry. Parton says she has no thoughts of retirement. She began writing music as a child, and she plans on continuing for the rest of her life.
“I don’t know why I’d ever want to stop,” she told The Times. “Especially after you get older, you need things to do. I’d rather wear out than rust out. You only have one life. No, I won’t retire. I might pull back if my husband’s not well or if I’m physically not well. But I’d never do it for any other reason.”
