Dolly Parton, a name synonymous with country music and an icon in the entertainment world, has decided to stop touring. At 76, the Tennessee native, known for her legendary voice and charisma, recently made the announcement, though she continues to release new music and perform selectively.
A New Chapter: Focusing on Family
In a recent interview with Pollstar, Dolly Parton explained her decision to retire from full-fledged touring. She shared, “I occasionally perform unique shows here and there. 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, Dolly intends to focus more on her music creation and spend quality time with her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
A Love Story for the Ages
Dolly and Carl’s story began in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1964, in front of the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Dolly was 18, and Carl was 21 when they met. Carl immediately felt a connection with her, famously stating, “I’m going to marry that girl,” according to an interview with Entertainment Tonight. Reflecting on their first encounter, he also said, “Lord she’s beautiful, was my second thought. And that marked the start of my existence. In this world, I wouldn’t exchange the past 50 years for anything.”
Dolly recalled in a 1976 interview with the New York Times how Carl caught her attention by “hollering” at her from his pickup truck. Although she initially declined his date offer, she later invited him over while watching her nephew, starting a lifelong love story.
A Secret Wedding and Enduring Love
Dolly and Carl exchanged vows in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966. Despite her record company advising them to delay their marriage, Dolly and Carl chose to go ahead with the wedding, keeping it out of the public eye by marrying in Georgia rather than Tennessee. The only people present were Dolly, Carl, and her mother.
Since then, Dolly and Carl have remained deeply in love. In 2016, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. Now, Dolly has decided to spend more time at home with Carl as they grow older.
“I’ve been doing that throughout my life, and it takes a lot of time and effort,” Dolly explained. “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.”
A New Musical Adventure
Dolly’s decision to stop touring does not mean she is stepping away from music altogether. In fact, her latest projects include exploring the rock ‘n’ roll genre, which is a tribute to her husband, who is a big fan of hard rock. This interest aligns with her recent nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Well, no better time to do it,” Dolly said about her nomination. “For years, I’ve thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album basically just for him, just to kind of do it.’” She is also working on a Christmas special for NBC, which will bring even more joy to her fans during the holiday season.
A Well-Deserved Break
Dolly Parton’s decision to end her touring career marks a new chapter focused on family and selective performances. While her fans may miss seeing her on the road, they continue to celebrate her remarkable contributions to music and eagerly await her new projects. As one fan aptly put it: “Have fun, Dolly! You have been very generous to us! Just unwind and take it all in right now! We’ll cherish you forever.”
