Dolly Parton, the iconic country music sensation and cherished public figure, has declared her retirement from extensive touring endeavors.
Although she won’t be undertaking extensive tours anymore, she intends to occasionally grace the stage for select events, such as weekend performances or appearances at festivals.

“I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then. Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore.” – Dolly Parton

Parton, who rose to stardom from humble beginnings in the Appalachian Mountains, has had an illustrious career in the music industry. Despite her decision to retire from touring, she will continue to create music and focus on spending quality time with her husband, Carl Thomas Dean.

In 1964, Dolly Parton and Dean Dean crossed paths outside a laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee. For Dean, it was an instant love connection. Recalling their fateful encounter, Dean fondly expressed, “When I first saw her, I thought, ‘I’m going to marry that girl.’ My immediate subsequent thought was, ‘Wow, she’s incredibly attractive.’ That day marked the beginning of my life.”

Two years later, the couple exchanged vows in a discreet ceremony held in Ringgold, Georgia, boldly disregarding the objections of Parton’s record label. Their profound love has endured over the years, and in 2016, they joyfully commemorated their 50th anniversary by renewing their marriage vows.

In her interview with Pollstar, Parton shared her reasons for retiring from touring, citing the desire to stay closer to home with her husband and the importance of being available for her loved ones in case of need. She expressed concerns about being away for extended periods and the potential for emergencies arising.

“I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy. I like to stay a little closer to home with my husband. We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time… Something could happen. I would not feel right about that if I were gone and somebody needed me. Or I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans.” – Dolly Parton

While retiring from touring, Parton remains dedicated to her music career. She revealed that her current musical creations will focus on the rock ‘n’ roll genre, catering to her husband’s love for that style. Parton was recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, inspiring her to pursue an album in the genre.