Dolly Parton reveals why she shuns modern forms of communication such as texting

Dolly Parton has clarified why she has decided not to get on board with modern forms of communication.

The legendary singer-songwriter – who famously mainly uses a fax machine to communicate with family, friends and work colleagues – has suggested she has “enough people around her” to not rely on text messages, emails and social media platforms. 

Appearing via satellite for an episode of The View, Parton, 77, said: “Actually, I don’t want to get into that world. I’m surrounded by enough people.”

“I never did get into getting involved in all that because it’ll take up too much of my time if I tried to get in touch with everybody who is trying to get in touch with me.

“So I just say, ‘Fax me! Fax me or call me and I'll call you back.’”

It comes just days after musician and Parton’s friend Reba McEntire said she can only get in touch with Parton via fax.

McEntire, 68, said. “You don't call Dolly, you fax her. You fax your people and your people talk to her people. That's the only way I know to get ahold of her.

“Dolly doesn't text. I don't have her telephone number, and I asked Kenny Rogers one time, I said, ‘Do you have Dolly's number?’ He said, ‘No.’”

Parton's love of the fax machine was corroborated by her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.

Cyrus discussed her godmother’s unusual means of communication on The Graham Norton Show in October 2021.

“She gets upset when you don't respond,” Cyrus, 30, said, admitting she doesn’t have a fax machine herself. “It's like, "’I'm sorry, I don't even know. Half the people watching your show might not even know what a fax machine is!’”