Celebrity3 min(s) read
Before her passing at age 80 on August 25, Dolly Parton revealed that she had recorded a secret song titled 'My Place In History' and placed it in a time capsule at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. The track will remain locked away until its scheduled release date in 2045.
Parton explained in her 2020 memoir Songteller: My Life in Lyrics that she hid the track away, though she later admitted the secrecy was tough to maintain.
During a 2022 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she joked about wanting to dig up the song, stating, "I had to write this song that nobody was going to hear ‘til then, and I tell you you have no idea how that has bothered me. I want to go dig that up so bad."
She added, "Hopefully it'll be special. I have to honestly say, it was an odd feeling to be asked to write a song that was not going to be heard ‘til [2045]. But it's a good song."
Though known for her decades of popular music, Parton often noted that her literacy work brought her the deepest fulfillment. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, millions of children received free books.
Speaking on the Today show in 2019, she confirmed her favorite title was The Book Lady, adding, "I have loved doing this for the kids. There's nothing more important than our little kids, to make an impression on them when they're young and to teach them the right things early on."
Fellow musicians quickly shared memories of Parton's guidance. Taylor Swift honored the singer in a statement to E! News, reflecting on her legacy.
"A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right. But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one," Swift said. "She was truly the gift that kept on giving."
Beyoncé, who collaborated with Parton on her Cowboy Carter album, expressed similar feelings on her website: "Dolly, you were the barometer. The North Star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship."
Co-stars and close friends also shared personal anecdotes about their time spent together. Jane Fonda praised Parton's impact on her audience, writing, "I know that millions are mourning and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever."
Oprah Winfrey shared her own memories on social media, writing, "No one like her. She brought the light, and we are all better because she was here. God bless you, Dolly - you earned your wings."
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