Dolly Parton reveals the real reason she hasn't had kids
She's been married for 57 years
Last updated 21st Sep 2023
Country music legend Dolly Parton has been married to husband Carl Dean for a massive 57 years, however the couple have never had kids, and the singer has now opened up about the real reason behind this.
Saying that she is "almost glad she never had children", Dolly spoke to MOJO, explaining her reasons for not having kids.
"I know this sounds like a selfish, awful thing to say, but I’m almost glad I never had children," the 'Rockstar' singer explained.
"I worry myself to death about my little nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. My husband and I, we just think of ourselves as each other’s child. He’s my only child, and I’m his only child."
This isn't the first time Dolly has addressed not having kids, in a previous interview with Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Experience, back in 2020, the singer explained: "Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom. So I think a big part of my whole success is the fact that I was free to work.
"I didn't have children because I believed that God didn't mean for me to have kids so everybody's kids could be mine, so I could do things like Imagination Library because if I hadn't had the freedom to work, I wouldn't have done all the things I've done," she explained. "I wouldn't be in a position to do all of the things I'm doing now."
The singer who has her 'Rockstar' album coming out soon, was also asked by MOJO if she was worried her that her ambition might be greater than her ability, when it came to her new album, and she replied: "There was a little bit of hesitancy. I thought maybe I shouldn’t do it, because I’ll be criticised to no end if it don’t turn out good. We did it demo-style when we first started recording, because I did it in secret."
Dolly also told Greatest Hits Radio earlier this year that she wouldn't be retiring any time soon: "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 continued: "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 ain't got no years to waste!"
You can hear songs by Dolly Parton on Greatest Hits Radio.
Take a look through some of Dolly Parton's best quotes:
"It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world."
Dolly Parton performing in 1976.
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
Dolly on stage.
"You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on. "
Dolly Parton on stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2014.
"You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."
Dolly Parton and her Goddaughter Miley Cyrus on stage at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."
Dolly Parton and her former partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, who she wrote her hit 'I Will Always Love You' about.
"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."
Dolly performing on stage at the UK Country Music Festival.
"Never leave a rhinestone unturned."
Dolly Parton in a publicity shot for the film 'Rhinestone' in 1984.
"Life is short, keep your dreams big and your hair bigger."
Dolly Parton co-hosting the 57th Academy Of Country Music Awards in March 2022.
"When it comes to music or hair, crank up the volume!"
Dolly performed at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2022.
Now read:
Dolly Parton: Everything you need to know about the music icon
9 of Dolly Parton's best quotes through the years
Watch: Dolly Parton’s epic cover of Queen mash-up