FAITH, MUSIC & WHAT’S NEXT
Inside Dolly Parton’s entertaining new show
Country legend Dolly Parton, 73, has produced a new Netflix series, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, which explains some of the inspirations behind her most beloved hits. Here she tells WHO about the show and her extraordinary career. How did it feel going to Dollywood to celebrate the series’ premiere?
Unreal. This was a really big dream of mine because I’ve been writing all my life. My songwriting means more to me than anything else I do.
In the ‘Jolene’ episode, you play the mentor
to Julianne Hough’s character, who’s in the music business. Have you been able to be a mentor in real life?
I have information, but it’s not right to try to tell somebody else how to live their life. When I first came to Nashville wearing all of my makeup and big hair and showing my big t--s, my dear friend Chet Atkins said, “Dolly, you’re never going to be taken serious if you don’t dress down”. I said, “It’s me. I have to be this way”. Years later, I became a big star.
Your goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, seems to be taking after you.
Lord, I’ve done everything, and what I ain’t done, I intend to. She’s going to do that, too. But Miley’s smart; Miley knows what she’s doing. I know we think she doesn’t, and she might not every minute, but I still know that she’s got good stuff in her.
Does she ask your opinion on her music?
She does. I’ve told her some things that I think are valuable, but I’d rather live an example.
You’re making music with the Christian group For King & Country. What inspired that collaboration? People look at me like a mother or sister. If I say something good, people might listen. Whether you believe in God or not, we need to believe in something bigger and better than what’s going on.