Emily Ann Roberts, a rising country music star, has shared the advice Dolly Parton gave her when she was a teenager on The Voice US, which she says has stuck with her throughout her career.
The 28-year-old, who was the runner-up on the NBC show under the guidance of Blake Shelton, met Parton when she was 16. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror ahead of her tour dates with Cody Johnson, the Tennessee native recalled asking Parton for advice during a mentoring session.
Advice That Stuck for 11 Years
Roberts said she was homesick at the time and asked Parton what she did when she felt that way. Parton told her that over the years she had often wished she was back home in the Smoky Mountains, and the most helpful thing was to get out her guitar and sing the songs she used to sing with her parents on the front porch.
Roberts said Parton told her that closing her eyes, she could hear them singing along and feel the mountain breeze, bringing her back home in her heart. Roberts described this as powerful to hear at such a young age.
Applying the Advice on Tour
Roberts said the advice has rung true, especially this year as she has been on the road "way more than I've been home," including her debut at the Country 2 Country Festival in the UK. She said she is thankful Parton reminded her that she can go home in her heart no matter where she is.
Roberts recently performed five days at Dollywood as part of the Harvest Festival, where she received a standing ovation at each show. She said it was bittersweet going to Dollywood after Parton's passing, but she put together a 10-minute medley of Parton's songs and played it for every crowd.
Career Milestones and Future Plans
Roberts said she did not take credit for the standing ovations, believing they were for Parton, but she was honoured to keep her memory alive. She is returning to the UK as a support act for Cody Johnson this month and will also perform at C2C next March, having graduated from the Spotlight Stage to the Main Stage.
She released her latest album, Memory Lane, earlier this year, featuring her viral track "Jack & Jill Daniel's." She said it took time to share her first album, Can't Hide Country in 2023, because she was working to get the right songs and sound. Roberts said she is thankful for those years of learning, even though she wished things had moved quicker.
