Hello, My Name Is Dolly
Q&A with Dolly Parton
IE: What advice would you pass on to a 20-year-old Dolly?
Dolly Parton: One of my favorite sayings of all time is that to thine ownself be true. I think that says so much. I would just say know who you are. Be sure that this talent that you’ve got is really worth working towards, that it’s going to get you where you need to go. Don’t just be fooled by having a desire, you’ve got to have guts; you’ve got to have talent and the desire to get out and push it. You’ve got to keep the dream in the forefront at all times and whatever it takes to reach it. That’s what you’ve got to do even if you cry and kick and piss and moan, you’ve still got to do it if you’re gonna get there.
IE: “Sacrifice” describes the things any career-driven person must give up in order to succeed. What have you sacrificed?
DP: I think we sacrifice more than we really realize. Some sacrifice more than others. I mean, I’ve had a wonderful, rich life. I’ve had a good marriage and a good husband that’s very independent and doesn’t demand that I be at home and all that. Having freedom to work has always been a great asset to me, but we all pay. We pay our dues.
IE: You’ve enjoyed great success singing songs written by others. Why is this album devoid of covers?
DP: I had a personal statement to make. I wanted to do an album to uplift the human spirit, but I also needed to uplift myself as well. I just made that conscious decision, that people need to know that I’m still a songwriter and that I still do that. All these songs have a ray of hope and a little bit of promise in them.
IE: What would you like your legacy to be?
DP: I’ve done so many things I’m proud of. Everything I’ve accomplished whether it’s my records or my career, whether it’s in the movies or whether it’s with my songwriting or Dollywood and I want to be known for all of that. I want people to be able to say, “Well, there’s a colorful little character. She did a lot of good things and seemed to enjoy them all.”
Dolly Parton appears July 28th at Rosemont Theatre (5400 N. River) in Rosemont. Her new album, Better Day (Dolly/Warner Bros. Nashville), is out now. Q&A by Janine Schaults.
Awesome