The music career of Dolly Parton has had a significant place in our cultural and creative consciousness over the span of the last several decades. She’s long been seen as one of the essential, genre-defining queens of country music, and has established a superstar background that’s also been full of endearing, charitable giving back to those who are less fortunate.
Additionally, Parton has periodically lent her charming talents to the world of acting, recently hinting that she might still have some guest-starring roles left up her sleeve. However, when it comes to her renowned songwriting skills, the 79-year-old has said she’s stepping back (at least temporarily), due to a very sad reason.
Dolly Parton’s Taking A Break From Writing To Process Her Husband’s Death
Who She’d Been With For Over 60 Years
On a recent edition of Khloé Kardashian’s podcast (entitled “Khloé In Wonder Land”), Parton admitted she’d paused her writing after the death of her husband Carl Dean, who passed away in March at age 82. His cause of death wasn’t released, but it was reported Dean had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019.
Parton said that while she’s started writing ideas, she’s been unable to currently finish them, largely due to not having the “luxury” of being in the right headspace to get into that emotional state since Dean’s demise. She hasn’t taken writing off the table, though, due to her love of it and “connection to God” in those moments.
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The last song released by Parton came just days after Dean’s death with “If You Hadn’t Been There,” which was written specifically in tribute to him. And while Parton does have a six-show concert residency planned in Las Vegas this December, the legend is under no obligation to create or entertain again until she’s ready.
Parton Is More Than Entitled To A Break
An Icon That’s Already Given The World So Much
In a lengthy career that began with Parton singing as a child and writing for others before eventually achieving her own success across the span of 49 studio albums, over 100 million albums sold, and thousands of songs written, Parton has more than earned her chance to rest/process. Her time to fittingly mourn the loss of her longtime romantic partner.
Not to mention, Parton has been a noted philanthropist over the years (particularly when it comes to the causes of health and literacy). For everything that Dolly Parton has given the world, it’s now the world’s chance to give her the space to have peace at this time.