The American singer and songwriter, Dolly Parton, recently shared why she has never taken a seat as a judge or coach on big singing shows like American Idol or The Voice. Despite getting several offers, she has always said no, and now, she explains her reason for it.
During a conversation with E! News, she explained that she finds it too hard to give feedback that might hurt someone chasing their dream. “Even if they’re not that good, they believe they are. And I just can’t hurt people,” she said. She knows what it is like to want something badly, and she never wants to crush that hope.
Dolly Parton prefers to stand behind the scenes to cheer people on, rather than criticize them
Although Dolly has turned down judging roles, she still shows up in her own way. Over the years, she has helped as a guest mentor on singing shows, and really, being supportive is more her style.
Parton has always been a person who uplifts others. She does this through her music, mentoring, and even her Imagination Library, which has sent millions of free books to children. She believes everyone deserves to be heard and seen, even if they are still growing in their gifts. That’s why she chooses to stand behind the scenes to cheer people on without putting them down.
“I ride through the park just to wave at people.”
During an interview with the TODAY Show, Dolly talked about how much her fans mean to her, especially in this season of her life. She rides through Dollywood just to wave at people. She remembered one touching moment when a little boy got so excited just from her wave. “I just wanted to get off that cart and just squeeze him,” she said.
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But behind those sweet moments, she is still going through the pain of loss. Her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away in March. After one parade, she got in her van and cried, overwhelmed by love and loss. She says she is adjusting and thankful for the love she has received from all over the world.