Despite having performed and sung for most of her life, Dolly Parton, the Tennessee native, has grown to be nothing short of a legend. With a horde of fans who adore her, this 76-year-old music icon has recently announced that she will no longer be embarking on tours.
Dolly Parton herself explained her decision in a recent interview with Pollystar, stating, “From time to time, I put on one-of-a-kind shows. I perform a few shows during a festival or throughout a long weekend. However, I no longer intend to go on a full-fledged tour.” Instead, this country music legend will focus on making music and devoting her time to her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
A Love Story that Lasts a Lifetime
Dolly and Carl Dean’s love story began in front of the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1964. Dolly, at 18 years old, caught Carl’s attention immediately. In an interview, Carl Dean fondly recalls telling her when they first met, “I’m going to marry that girl.” Dolly, on the other hand, initially declined his invitation for a date but later invited him while watching her nephew. This marked the beginning of their lifelong love tale.
Dolly and Carl exchanged vows in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966. Despite the pressures of Dolly’s career and her record company encouraging them to postpone their wedding, the couple decided to marry in Georgia to avoid media attention. Only Dolly, Carl, and Dolly’s mother were present on their special day. Since then, Dolly and Carl have been deeply in love, and in 2016, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows.
Embracing a New Chapter
Dolly Parton plans to spend a lot more time with her husband now that she has decided to step away from touring. In an interview with Pollstar, she discusses her experience with touring, saying, “I’ve done that my entire life; it takes a lot of time and work.” As they grow older, Dolly prefers to stay closer to home with her husband. She doesn’t want to be away for weeks at a time, fearing that something might happen or someone might need her. She wants to be available for her loved ones while also not disappointing her fans by having to terminate a tour abruptly.
The singer also shared that her husband, Carl, will classify her most recent musical compositions as rock ‘n’ roll. Dolly, who was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, expressed her excitement about this opportunity. “Well, there’s no better time than now,” she said. She has been thinking for years about doing an album dedicated to her husband, who is a big hard rock ‘n’ roll fan.
New Projects on the Horizon
While Dolly Parton may not be touring anymore, she is busy working on exciting new projects. In addition to finishing her new album, she is reportedly working on a Christmas special for NBC this year. As fans, let us take this time to appreciate Dolly and all the happiness she has brought into our lives. We will remember her forever for her incredible talent, kindness, and love for her fans.
