Dolly Parton is a widely recognized figure in both country music and the broader world of celebrities. The Tennessee native has spent most of her life performing and entertaining her dedicated fans, and over time, she has become nothing short of a living legend.
Despite continuing to release new music, the 76-year-old icon recently announced her decision to stop touring. In a recent interview with Pollstar, Parton explained her reasons for stepping away from life on the road.
“I occasionally perform unique shows here and there,” she said. “Maybe perform a few gigs at a festival or over a long weekend. However, I no longer have any plans to embark on a full-fledged tour.”
Instead of touring, Parton plans to focus on creating music and spending more time with her husband, Carl Thomas Dean. Dolly and Carl have shared a long and loving relationship, having first met in front of the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1964. Dolly was 18, and Carl was 21. Carl was immediately struck by her beauty and reportedly told himself, “I’m going to marry that girl.”
Reflecting on their first meeting in a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Parton said Carl “hollered” at her from his pickup truck, but she turned down his initial offer for a date. However, a few days later, she invited him over while she was babysitting her nephew. This encounter sparked a love story that has lasted more than 50 years.
The couple married in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966, despite advice from Dolly’s record company to postpone their wedding due to her rising career. To avoid media attention, they chose to wed in Georgia rather than Tennessee, with only Dolly, Carl, and her mother in attendance.
Dolly and Carl’s love has endured, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016 by renewing their vows. Now, with Dolly stepping back from touring, they will have more time to spend together.
In her interview with Pollstar, Parton reflected on her decision to cut back on travel. “I’ve been doing that throughout my life, and it takes a lot of time and effort,” she said. “With my husband, I prefer to stay a little closer to home. I don’t want to go away for four or five weeks at a time because we are getting older. Something might occur. If I were gone and someone needed me, I wouldn’t feel great about that. Or I would feel horrible if I had to end a tour early because someone at home needed me and I couldn’t leave the fans behind.”
In addition to focusing on her personal life, Dolly is also working on new music. She revealed that her recent musical efforts will be in the rock ‘n’ roll genre, in honor of her husband, who is a big fan of hard rock. In May, Parton received a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor that has inspired her latest project.
“When I learned that I had been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it.’ I’d wanted to do it forever,” she shared. “For years I’ve thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album basically just for him.’”
Parton is also working on a Christmas special for NBC while finishing her new album. With so many projects still in the works, Dolly continues to entertain, even if she’s not hitting the road anymore.
We wish Dolly all the best as she focuses on her family and new creative endeavors. She has given so much to her fans over the years—now it’s time for her to relax and enjoy herself.