Dolly Parton Prefers Stage Death Over Retirement

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Country music icon, Dolly Parton, known for her effervescent spirit and enduring work ethic, refuses to entertain thoughts of retirement. Having an impressive discography of 65 studio albums, the '9 to 5' singer recently revealed she would rather have a dramatic exit, 'dropping dead' onstage, than planning her farewell performance.

During an engaging discussion on Greatest Hits Radio with host Ken Bruce, Parton made her sentiments clear. She's not one to be found idling around; the thought of retirement is far from her mind. "I'll just hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song onstage someday.

Hopefully, one I've written," said Parton, unabashedly expressing her fondness for the stage and her work. She elucidated that she'd only consider slowing down if her or her husband's health was at stake.

Parton's Unyielding Work Ethic

Parton's unwavering commitment to her work stems from her belief that individuals blessed enough to witness their dreams materialize have a responsibility to sustain the dream.

The multifaceted artist compares her career trajectory to a sturdy tree with robust roots, sprouting numerous branches and leaves, embodying her numerous dreams and opportunities. In May, Parton's legendary status was reinforced as she received three new Guinness record titles.

These accolades include having the longest span of No. 1 hits, the most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart, and the most studio albums released by a female country singer. The 77-year-old singer has no plans to decelerate, as seen with her latest endeavor, a new album titled 'Rockstar.'

The highly anticipated album is inspired by her 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and features collaborations with multiple rock legends including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Steve Perry, Sting, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar, and Elton John.

However, Parton is explicitly clear about her disdain for the emerging trend of artificial intelligence holograms to preserve artists' onstage presence. While many of her contemporaries embrace this technology, Parton resists, stating she doesn't want to leave her soul behind on Earth, preferring to be remembered by the considerable body of work she's created.

In her own words from an earlier interview with The Independent, "I think I've left a great body of work behind," indicating she intends to live on through her timeless music.