Music & Musicians

Here's Why Dolly Parton Won't Tour Again

Dolly Parton's career has spanned 56 years, won her 11 Grammy Awards and amassed millions of fans. Now, the country music legend is hanging up her Coat of Many Colors and not planning to tour again

2022 SXSW Conference And Festival - Day 8
Rick Kern/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Dolly Parton's rockin' years on the road are over.

The 76-year-old county music legend's career has spanned almost six decades. Now, she's revealing her future tour plans — or lack thereof. 

"I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I'll do special shows here and there, now and then," the "Jolene" singer told Pollstar Magazine on Oct. 27. "Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore. I've done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy."

And she has a good reason for wanting to spend more time at home — her husband of 56 years, Carl Dean

"I like to stay a little closer to home with my husband," she said. "We're getting older now, and I don't want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time. Something could happen. I would not feel right about that, if I were gone and somebody needed me."

She added, "I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans."

PHOTOS: Celebs Honor Dolly Parton at 2019 MusiCares Gala

Before the next teardrop falls, fans should know that she doesn't intend to stop making music. The "I Will Always Love You" singer also told Pollstar that being nominated for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inspired her, and she found herself wondering if she should put out a rock album. 

"Why not just go ahead and do it while the iron's hot," she said. "Maybe have some of the greats, the legends of rock ‘n' roll sing along with me."

And when Parton says legends, she means it. She hopes to re-record her bluegrass "Stairway to Heaven" cover with two of the men who sang the song originally—Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.

Parton has plans to collaborate with more artists too, including her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, as well as Ed Sheeran and Jimmy Fallon, saying "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" host "is a really good singer" even though "he doesn't think so." 

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton

Before Parton retreats to her Tennessee mountain home, she'll be in Los Angeles to be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 5.

She also has an NBC Christmas special, "Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas" featuring Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson and Billy Ray Cyrus.  

E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.

Dolly Parton's former tour bus, the Suite 1986, is currently parked outside her Dollywood DreamMore Resort & Spa in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and is now open to reservations for overnight stays.
Copyright E! Online
Contact Us