Dolly Parton has shared stages with music’s biggest names and starred with Hollywood’s finest on the way to selling more than 100 million records.
So there’s a surprising answer when asked for her greatest achievement: “Knowing Jesus.”
She added, “I talk to Jesus all the time. He’s my best friend, my partner, my co-writer and he’s involved in everything I do. I feel he is close to me every day.”
Parton is a legendary country singer, actress, TV star and songwriter with a career spanning seven decades and also taking in roles as philanthropist and businesswoman.
Now aged 77, she celebrated her latest birthday with the release the God-inspired single ‘Don’t Make Me Come Down There’.
Born into a “dirt poor” family in rural East Tennessee – the fourth of twelve children – Parton made her film debut in the 1980 hit comedy 9 to 5. By then, she already had many music hits, including the biblically-inspired ‘Coat of Many Colours’ and ‘Here You Come Again’.
Parton is as at ease talking about her faith as she is about hits including ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘Jolene’.
“I gather strength from my friends and family and, above all else, I have great faith in God,” she explained.
“I pray a lot, asking him for guidance. I have always tried to depend on him and I’ve tried to keep locked into that and tried to energise my batteries with God by prayer every day.”
There’s one surprising area God helps her. Despite filling venues worldwide for so long, Parton admits to getting nervous before shows, turning to Jesus for help.
She said: “I go off somewhere and pray a little bit and try to anchor myself. I ask God to bless the show and the people, and let me be a bright spark and do good and glorify him in my own way.”
Throughout her career, she has been keen to make her faith practical. In 1988, she launched the Dollywood Foundation to inspire children, especially those from poorer, less privileged backgrounds, to follow their dreams.
This led to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library across America and Canada, which gives every pre-school child a book each month from birth to nursery. It has expanded to over 800 communities in 41 states and gives away over 5 million books a year.
One book, though, is central to her life. “I grew up with a Bible background, and I’m glad I did. I know my Bible stories.”
Her first real performances took place in her local church. Gospel music helped bring her to know Jesus and it remains central to her career.
“Everybody thinks of God as a different thing. To me, God is that greater, higher energy – that greater, wiser wisdom. I’ve always trusted God and trusted myself, which to me are intertwined. I’m a creative person, and what gifts I have come from that divine place I try to tap into.”
