Dolly Parton Reveals Major Career Update: ‘I Do Not Think I Will Ever Tour Again’
Dolly Parton has confirmed her retirement from touring. During a recent interview Pollstar, the Country music icon revealed that she no longer…
Photo Courtesy Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has confirmed her retirement from touring.
During a recent interview Pollstar, the Country music icon revealed that she no longer has the desire to hit the road for a full-scale stint of shows.
“I do not think I will ever tour again,” Dolly Parton told the publication. “But I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then. Maybe 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,” she continued. “I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy.”
Between her philanthropy, making a Christmas special and recording new music, Parton hasn’t had much time for touring, but there are a few other reasons that ultimately led her to this decision.
She shared that between her advancing age and wanting to spend time with her husband Carl Dean, she prefers to be at home, instead of traveling for weeks or months at a time.
That being said, Parton is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2018, she told PEOPLE that she doesn’t plan to ever retire fully, and that if it was up to her, she would die on stage.
“There’s a whole lot to be said for loving your work and having confidence in yourself. I never once thought of retiring,” she told the outlet. “I just hope I fall dead in the middle of a song, hopefully one I wrote, right on stage. That’s the way I go! [But] if my husband needed me, or someone in my family, I would put him first. I’ve always put myself first and my career first, but if something were to happen to him, I would pull back on that. I’d still find a way to work, still find a way to be productive.”
Parton’s last major tour took place in 2016 around the release of her album, Pure & Simple. For this stint of shows, the “9 to 5” singer played 60 dates throughout Canada and the United States.
So while this announcement may come as a shock to some fans, a “full-blown” tour has not been on Parton’s radar for some time.
In a few weeks, Parton will be formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon. The induction will take place on November 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and can be viewed on HBO and HBO Max.
Ahead of this ceremony, the singer shared a few details regarding her upcoming rock and roll album, which she’s been hoping to make ever since receiving the invitation from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
During the ceremony, she’s expected to debut a song she wrote titled, “Rockin’.” In addition, she’s also planning to get into the studio to record a rock version of “Stairway to Heaven.”
Following this upcoming appearance, Parton will release her greatest hits album, Diamonds & Rhinestones, on November 18.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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