Dolly Parton, now 77, is a true icon, known not just in the world of country music but as a celebrity powerhouse. Born in Tennessee, she’s become a living legend, loved by fans worldwide for her talent, charm, and generosity.
She’s been performing almost her entire life and still loves entertaining her fans. However, in a recent turn of events, Dolly announced she’s officially done with touring. Even though she’ll continue making music, she’s stepping away from the exhausting life of a full tour schedule.
In an interview with Pollstar, Dolly shared her decision:
“I’ll do special shows here and there. Maybe a weekend of performances or a few at festivals, but I don’t plan on doing full tours anymore.”
For someone who climbed from poverty in the Appalachian Mountains to international stardom, it’s a big shift. Fans who’ve followed her on the road for years will surely miss seeing her perform live on a regular basis. But Dolly’s not disappearing—she’s just refocusing her energy. Now, she’s dedicating more time to her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who has stood by her side for over 50 years.
Their love story is the stuff of romance novels. Dolly and Carl met in 1964 outside a laundromat in Nashville when Dolly was just 18, and Carl was 21. According to Carl, he was smitten from the moment he saw her.
“My first thought was, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl,’” Carl recalled in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “My second thought was, ‘She’s beautiful.’ That’s when my life really began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for anything.”
Dolly has also shared the sweet details of their meeting. Carl had been sitting in his pickup truck when he spotted her. He called out to her, and while she turned down his first date offer, she later invited him over while she babysat her nephew. That was the beginning of their long-lasting love.
By May 1966, the two were married in a private ceremony in Georgia. Dolly’s record label had wanted her to hold off on getting married so she could focus on her career, but she and Carl didn’t want to wait. To avoid the prying eyes of the media in Tennessee, they secretly tied the knot with only Dolly’s mother in attendance.
Since then, their relationship has remained strong, with the couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in 2016. Now, with Dolly stepping away from the pressures of touring, they’ll have even more time to spend together.
In her interview with Pollstar, Dolly opened up about the reason behind this decision:
“I’ve been doing this my whole life, and it takes a lot of time and energy. I’d rather stay closer to home with my husband. We’re both getting older, and I don’t want to be away for four or five weeks at a time. Something might happen, and I wouldn’t feel right if I wasn’t around. I’d feel bad if I had to leave a tour because someone at home needed me.”
But Dolly’s far from done making music. In fact, her upcoming album will take her in a new direction—rock n’ roll! This change was partly inspired by her nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in May, but it’s also a special tribute to Carl, who’s a huge rock fan.
“When I got the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, I thought it was the perfect time. I’d always wanted to do it. My husband is a huge rock fan, and I’ve thought for years about making an album just for him.”
Aside from her music, Dolly has also kept busy with other projects. She starred in the NBC special Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, which aired on December 1.
“It’s a show within a show,” Dolly explained. “It focuses on all the behind-the-scenes drama. There are arguments with producers, problems with the artists, sets falling apart, and last-minute cancellations. I wouldn’t call it acting. I’m just being myself, just Dolly, not playing a role.”
On top of that, Dolly is also working with actress Reese Witherspoon to produce the movie Run, Rose, Run, based on a novel she co-wrote with James Patterson.
While Dolly’s shift away from touring might seem like a big change, it’s understandable when you consider everything she’s been through. In the 1980s, she faced serious health problems but continued pushing herself for the sake of her career. In fact, in 1982, at just 35 years old, she collapsed on stage during a performance in Indianapolis.
At the time, Dolly was struggling with endometriosis, a condition that causes severe pain, heavy periods, and fatigue. Like many women, Dolly brushed off her symptoms as just “female problems.” She had been warned by her doctor to take a break before her show in Indianapolis, but Dolly didn’t want to disappoint her fans. She went on stage anyway, and it proved to be too much.
After collapsing, she was flown to New York for medical attention and was forced to cancel the remaining 30 dates of her 35-stop U.S. and Canada tour. Not long after, Dolly underwent surgery for a partial hysterectomy.
Reflecting on that time in her life, Dolly said:
“I was pushing myself too hard. I wasn’t watching what I ate or paying attention to nutrition. I was working non-stop while dealing with personal and emotional issues.”
Dolly’s decision to step back from touring and focus on her personal life is a reminder that even legends need to take care of themselves. Though she won’t be on the road as much, her fans can still look forward to her new music and many other exciting projects. And now, with more time at home, Dolly can enjoy the life she’s worked so hard to build alongside her beloved Carl.
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