The country music legend Dolly Parton is speaking out this week to reveal why she’ll never be a judge on singing competition shows like American Idol and The Voice.
Parton Talks Singing Competitions
“I’ve been asked to do that a lot of times,” Parton told E! News. “It’s too hard for me. That’s why I don’t accept it, because I know how sincere everybody is. Even if they’re not that good, they believe they are. And I just can’t hurt people.”
Though Parton, 79, has no interest in critiquing her fellow singers, she doesn’t have a problem mentoring them!
Indeed, she served as a guest mentor on season seven of American Idol back in 2008. Parton was later a guest mentor on The Voice twice, once in season nine in 2015 and then again in season 11 in 2016.
Parton’s Broadway Show
These days, Parton is focused on working on her autobiographical musical Dolly: An Original Musical, which is set to debut next year. She also recently marked the 40th anniversary of Dollywood, her amusement park in Tennessee.
“I’m just very proud of all of it, because I’ve seen it grow,” she gushed. “It’s like having a house full of kids. Every time something new goes in, it’s like, ‘Oh, we got a new baby, we got a new kid in the family.'”
“But it’s an amazing park and it’s catered to families… we’re proud of that. I think I’m as proud of that as anything, that people want to come back,” Parton added.
Related: Dolly Parton Working On Broadway Show About Her Life – ‘You’ll Laugh, You’ll Cry, You’ll Clap…’
Parton Mourns Her Husband
Sadly, this also comes at a difficult time for Parton. It’s been just two months since she lost her husband Carl Dean, who she was married to for nearly sixty years.
“Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up,” Parton told TODAY last week. “But we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old.”
“It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits,” she continued. “I’ll do fine, and I’m very involved in my work and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me. But I’ll always miss him, of course, and always love him. He was a great partner to me.”
Parton went on to say that she’s grateful for all the love and support that she’s received from fans.
“I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,” she said. Parton then jokingly added, “I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.”
Watch Parton talk more about this in the video below.
Full Story: Dolly Parton Becomes ‘Very Emotional’ Two Months After Her Husband’s Death – ‘We Were Together 60 Years…’
Carl Dean’s Death
Parton was only 18 years-old when she met Dean at a Nashville laundromat back in 1964. This was actually Parton’s first day in Nashville after she moved there from her small town to pursue her country music dreams. They married in 1966, and they had been together ever since.
Parton announced Dean’s death to the world hours after his passing on March 3.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she wrote on social media at the time. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
As Parton mourns the love of her life, we’re glad to see that she’s staying both busy and positive. In the end, we can certainly see why being a judge on American Idol and The Voice isn’t a good fit for someone as kind and generous as Dolly Parton!
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