Dolly Parton's touching words about heaven have resurfaced following the news of her death at the age of 80. The country music icon once had the perfect response when her grandfather questioned her appearance and wondered whether she really wanted to go to heaven.
During a conversation with Khloe Kardashian on her Khloe in Wonderland podcast last year, Dolly recalled how her grandfather had taken issue with her love of make-up and felt she was going too far with her glamorous look.
A Quick-Witted Reply
She said: “I remember once my grandpa said, about me wearing my makeup and everything, and he thought that I was going overboard, and he said something like, 'Well, don't you want to go to heaven?' And I said something like, 'Yeah, but do I have to look like hell when I get there?'”
The quick-witted remark left her mother less than impressed. “But my mama was saying, 'That's sacrilege,' but I thought, 'Lord knows I'm just kidding him',” Dolly told Khloe.
Faith and Humour
The singer then explained why she believed humour and faith could happily exist alongside one another. “You know, I think that God has to have a sense of humor. He wouldn't have created me.” Khloe agreed with her, with Dolly adding that she believed laughter was something God intended people to enjoy.
“Yeah. I would think he wants us to laugh. Even the Bible says that if you're a spiritual person, you know, the Bible talks about a merry heart, a happy heart does good like medicine.” She continued: “So, I think laughter is one of the most healing things. And a heart, a joyful heart, I think, is a wonderful thing to have.”
Family Announcement
Dolly's comments have resurfaced following news of her death at the age of 80, which was announced by her family. In a video shared on Instagram, her nephew Brian Seaver said she was “in the arms of Jesus”, adding that she had been “surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens”.
Mr Seaver said: “My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. “Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.”
He added: “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Mr Seaver added: “It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.” Her husband, Carl Dean, died last year.
Dolly leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades, with global hits including 9 To 5, Jolene and I Will Always Love You. She sold more than 100 million records worldwide and wrote more than 3,000 songs. Away from music, she was also renowned for her philanthropy. Her Imagination Library book-gifting programme, launched in 1995 in honour of her father, has distributed more than 270 million books to children.
