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Dolly Parton Reveals Why She Doesn’t Want To Be Younger – ‘I Don’t Feel My Age’

The country music legend Dolly Parton celebrated her 77th birthday last month, and though she works in an industry that prioritizes youth, she has no interest in ever being young again.

Parton Isn’t Afraid Of Aging

Unlike many other celebrities, Parton simply is not afraid of getting older.

“Honestly, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, when I see young people today and I see what they’re going to have to go through, especially in this day and time, I would honestly rather be this age than that age,” she told Insider. “They say wisdom comes with age, and you can’t stop the aging process, nor the numbers.”

Parton went on to say that she firmly believes that age is just a number.

“Of course, everyone would like to stay 35 forever, and in my mind I kind of do,” Parton said with a laugh. “But I can’t get caught in that trap of thinking, ‘I’ve got to do this or that.’ The way I live, the way I work, the way I feel, I’m going to make every moment count. I may live to be 100 or I may die tomorrow, but whenever that is, I will know I died trying, and I will know I’ve done everything I could to make the most of everything.”

“As long as I stay healthy, the numbers shouldn’t matter,” she continued. “I don’t feel my age, I don’t work my age, I don’t think my age, and hopefully, I don’t look my age!”

Parton Doesn’t ‘Need A Whole Lot Of Sleep’

Parton maintains a strict schedule that involves her getting up at 3am each morning, with her saying that she does “some of my best work” then.

“I don’t need a whole lot of sleep,” Parton said. “I go to bed pretty early, but even if I’ve been up late, it’s just kind of like a little clock inside of me that says, ‘It’s 3 o’clock!'”

“I get enough sleep,” the “Jolene” singer added. “I don’t require as much sleep as a lot of other people do. That’s kind of a Parton family trait.”

It will also come as a surprise to many that Parton doesn’t have some intricate anti-aging skin routine.

“I don’t do any big rituals with my skin or anything, and I don’t think you have to pay a ton of money to have good products,” she said. “Most of the products that cost less are just as good, and sometimes better than the ones that cost a fortune.”

‘I Don’t Have Time To Age’

As she celebrated her birthday on January 19, Parton explained that she doesn’t think of aging “in terms of years,” and instead measures her life in experiences and accomplishments.

“People say, ‘How do you stay so young?’ and I say, ‘Because I don’t have time to age,'” Parton told Yahoo News. “That’s really kind of my line, but it’s true … I’m turning 77 and I think, Golly, how did I get that old? The time just kind of flew by, but you base it more on what you’ve got ahead of you instead of what’s behind you.”

“I think: I’ve gotta work. I’ve gotta make hay while the sun shines,” she continued. “I have been blessed in my life to have done so many things. They say wisdom comes with age, and if that’s the truth then I ought to be really smart by now because 77 is a big number.”

Parton is a truly inspirational legend and there never will be another one like her. We would like to wish her a very happy belated birthday, and many more to come!

James Conrad

James Conrad’s passion for politics is only overshadowed by his longstanding interest in Hollywood. His unique perspective as a gay conservative fuels him to challenge celebrity views and those who think they have a right to tell anyone how to think or vote. James proudly wields his minority point of view to combat identity politics and cut through his typecast. Fun fact: James’ guilty pleasure is the British royal family.