Dolly Parton, the country music icon, has died at the age of 80 following months of health setbacks. Earlier this year, the singer, one of the most celebrated in history, revealed her final wish: to be remembered as a “normal person” who simply “got lucky”.
A Legacy of Music and Kindness
Having written over 3,000 songs and sold over 100 million records worldwide, Parton was one of a kind. When asked about her legacy in January, she said: “I hope my legacy to be my music. I hope it will last long after I'm gone.”
She continued: “But most of all, I just would like to be remembered as a good person, someone who cared and who worked hard to help people. I would just like to be remembered as a normal person who got lucky and got to do what I love most for a living. I hope that I leave something behind for people to enjoy and draw from.”
Age Was Just a Number
Despite turning 80, Parton said she didn't feel a day over 40. “I feel good,” she said about her big day. “I think it's more of a big deal for other people because I don't really think about my age. Age is just a number, as they say. Yes, I'm 80 but I don't feel 80. I honestly don't feel much different to when I was 40. But I do feel grateful.”
Reflecting on her career, the late star admitted to working hard and spending long periods on the road, but she had no regrets. “There was never many vacations because I was always working. But I don't have any regrets. The sacrifice has been worth it because I got to make my dreams come true. And that's what dreams need to become a reality – hard work and sacrifice.”
No Plans to Retire
Parton made clear she had no intention of slowing down. “I just do, I like to be busy, I like to work as much as I can,” she said. “But I'm lucky to be able to do what I do. And of course, I don't do it alone. I have a wonderful group of people who I get to work with and who make it not seem like work to me.”
She added: “But I still love my work. People keep asking me if I will ever retire. Will I retire at 80? The answer is no because I still love what I do. I still have dreams I want to make happen if I can. And like I always say, I need the money because it costs a lot to look this cheap.” Laughing, she added: “That ain't no joke.”
A Gift From God and a Philanthropic Heart
Parton described her songwriting as a gift from God, a fitting sentiment given her nephew, Bryan Seaver, said she had been welcomed in the “arms of Jesus” following her death. She reflected: “I think so, I guess it's something I was born with, it's God's gift. I came from a long line of singers, musicians and writers on my mother's side of the family, so all that stuff just came naturally to me. Writing songs started out as just how I would express myself and how I was feeling.”
Beyond music, Parton was a businesswoman with a theme park bearing her name, Dollywood, and a philanthropist. Her Imagination Library, launched in 1995 and inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who couldn't read or write, delivered more than 270 million books to children worldwide, completely free of charge.
