Dolly Parton vows to ‘never’ retire: ‘I hope I drop dead on stage in the middle of a song’

The country music legend also revealed her hopes to expand into new and exciting areas outside of music
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Dolly Parton has spoken about her plans for the future and they don’t involve retiring
AFP via Getty Images
Tina Campbell13 July 2023
The Weekender

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Dolly Parton says she has no intention of ever retiring and wants to die doing what she loves most – performing.

The country music legend, who is currently gearing up for the release of her debut rock album Rockstar on November 17, may be 77, but is determined to keep on until the very end.

“I would never retire! I would hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song on stage someday - and hopefully one I’ve written - but that’s how I hope to go. I don’t have much of a choice in that but in the meantime, I’m going to make hay while the sun shines,” she defiantly told Ken Bruce when she joined him on his Greatest Hits Radio on Wednesday.

One thing she does conceed however is that her touring days are over.

“I’m not touring anymore but I will continue to do special shows here and there now and then like a long weekend or festival shows. But as far as touring I think those days are pretty much behind me... you have to stay gone so long on a tour to make it productive and prosperous and that’s a lot of time at my age – I aint’ got no years to waste!” she explained.

In addition to her music, Parton is quite the entrepreneur with her fingers in a number of pies from TV and movie production, books, perfume, a baking collection, a dog apparel line called Doggy Parton and even her own themepark Dollywood. Looking ahead, there are still a number of revenues that she would like to pursue.

The Jolene hit-maker explained:I want to have my own line of make-up, own line of wigs and clothes. Once you get to a certain place in your career you get a lot of offers and some of them are just really hard to turn down!”

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