Country Legend Dolly Parton Reveals Why She Never Had Children
Beloved country singer Dolly Parton has opened up about her decision to never have children of her own, despite her strong bond with kids and her longstanding work with children’s charities. Parton, 71, spoke with the Today show’s Matt Lauer to promote her first children’s album, I Believe in You, and discuss her unique perspective on motherhood.
During the interview, Parton shared that she has always felt like a mother to everyone, thanks to what she believes is fate’s plan for her. “God has a plan for everything,” she said. “I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now.”
While she has previously expressed regret about not having children, Parton now says she doesn’t feel that way. Instead, she has developed close relationships with her younger siblings and nieces and nephews. “Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, ‘Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids? Now we don’t have kids to worry about,'” she told Billboard.
Parton also discussed her strong connection with children, attributing it to her high-pitched voice, her appearance, and her large family. “I have that high-pitched voice… I look like Mother Goose or one of those over-exaggerated characters, and kids just relate to that,” she said.
Now in what she calls her “second childhood,” Parton felt it was the perfect time to release songs for children, with all the proceeds from the album going to her charity, Imagination Library. Through Imagination Library, Parton has provided nearly 100 million free books to young children.
For fans who want to support Parton’s cause and enjoy her new music, her album is available for purchase on Amazon.com for $11. Additionally, a link to the interview can be found on Today.com.
Despite her decision to not have children of her own, Dolly Parton’s love for kids and her dedication to promoting children’s literacy continues to make a lasting impact.