In a recent interview, Dolly Parton shared what she would say to her younger self while stating that she still has within her the young girl she used to be. The “Jolene” singer is one of many successful stars who built their glossy life from the ground up.
Dolly grew up with a humble start, alongside her eleven siblings and their parents, in the mountains of East Tennessee. The country singer grew up lacking basic amenities like electricity and running water; however, that did not stop her passion for music.
Dolly always dreamt of becoming a singer
Dolly recalled how she would perform for the chickens and dogs on the front porch, using a stick with a tin can as a mic growing up. “I imagined it, I dreamed it, I worked for it… and God was good enough to let me have it,” Dolly said.
RELATED: Dolly Parton Releases Four New Amazing Duncan Hines Mixes
Per what she would tell young Dolly, the legendary singer responded, “If I could look back on my little self, I would just say, ‘You better buckle up. Brace yourself. You’re going to have a wild ride, but you’re going to love it.”
Dolly stays young at heart
Dolly added that despite being older, she still has that little girl in her. “I always try to stay in touch with that little girl, whatever age I am,” she said. “I always try to stay as much of a child today as I was when I was a child.”
After her 77th birthday, Dolly made it known that she has no intentions of retiring, because she is a workaholic and loves her career. “I don’t think I could retire if I wanted to. Cause I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, as I say. Cause all these wonderful things keep happening and you gotta keep the dream alive,” she said. “Since I love to work, I always say I’ll just work. ‘I’m gonna make hay while the sun shines,’ is the old saying. So, I’m gonna do that until I can’t do it anymore,” Dolly added.