Dolly Parton’s magnificent career has spanned more than six decades since being discovered in 1966. At the age of 78, the country music mega-star is beginning to open up about why she will never tour again.
“I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then,” Parton said.
“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. I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy.”
Parton made it clear in an interview that she has a concern for her husband, Carl Dean. They have been married for 56 years.
“I like to stay a little closer to home with my husband,” she said. “We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time.”
“Something could happen,” she said. “I would not feel right about that, if I were gone and somebody needed me. Or I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans.”
Dolly was asked in the interview who she hopes to duet with in the future, she listed a bevy of names: Ed Sheeran, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Stapleton, her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, and the Wilson sisters of the band Heart.
Many of these people are scheduled to be singing on Parton’s new rock and roll album that she is working on.
“There’s a lot of people I hadn’t thought that much about until I started putting together this rock album,” she said. “I’m going to be thinking seriously about that now.”
Next week Dolly is slated to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony. She initially attempted to decline the nomination but is set now to join other inductees: Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon.
Parton is also going to ask long-time friend Stevie Nick to sing on her upcoming album.
“I’m going to ask her to sing on my rock album, too,” Parton said, later adding, “I love her persona. I love her songs. I love her voice, I just love her. As people do!”
We. Can’t. Wait.
