Dolly Parton Reflects on 80 Years of Trailblazing Success

In a recent interview, legendary country music icon Dolly Parton, now 79 years old, looks back on her remarkable 7-decade career and the sacrifices she's made along the way. Parton reveals that while she has achieved immense success, including 11 Grammys and over 100 million albums sold, she has had to make tough choices, such as never having children.

Despite her age, Parton remains determined to keep pushing forward. In September 2025, she was forced to postpone a string of concerts due to "health challenges" following a kidney stone-related infection. However, Parton is facing the next decade with her trademark humor and tenacity, saying, "People say, 'Well, you're going to be 80 years old.' Well, so what? Look at all I've done in 80 years. I feel like I'm just getting started."

As Parton reflects on her journey, she credits her father's strong work ethic and her mother's creativity for shaping her groundbreaking career. She faced industry sexism early on but managed to make a successful pop crossover and conquer Hollywood in the 1980s. Now, Parton is focused on leaving a lasting legacy, saying, "I'm at that point in my life where I just want to be able to do good things that can be carried on."