Dolly Parton wears many, many hats. The country music superstar is also an actress, a business owner and a philanthropist, as well as an author, with her next book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, coming out in September. While the 74-year-old has certainly earned the rights — and the means — to retire, Dolly says she is, in fact, just getting started.
“I’m touched and honored that I’m still around and that I’m able to still be important in the business,” Dolly told Billboard. “I honestly feel like I’m just getting started. I know that sounds crazy but I really feel like I might have a big music career, record career. Who knows?”
In addition to making music, the Country Music Hall of Fame member is also proud of her Dollywood theme park, which she began in 1986, after purchasing Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, as a way to support those in the area she grew up in, including some of her own family members.
“I had no notion of how to run a theme park, but I knew that I would find the right people, as you always do,” Dolly said, adding that it was also a smart business decision for her as well.
“I often wonder why more artists don’t do more things like that to have something to fall back on if things don’t work out the way they’d hoped — or just to have something more,” she remarked. “I feel like even if I wasn’t popular anymore, I could always sing at Dollywood.”
Between all of her business ventures, Dolly employs thousands of people, which she does as much for them as she does for herself, and maybe more.
‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ So I look at my life with that every day and think that God expects it of me,” Dolly stated. “I expect it of myself, and I think people expect it of me. If I can be an inspiration, then I want to be that. That makes me feel good.”
Dolly also just announced the release of her new Christmas album, It’s a Holly Dolly Christmas. The record, which includes collaborations with Jimmy Fallon, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Michael Bublé and Willie Nelson, will be released on October 2.