"My Place in History": Dolly Parton's Song Locked Away Until 2046

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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – Iconic singer and songwriter Dolly Parton has often surprised fans with her creative ventures outside of music. From a line of pet apparel (Doggy Parton) to co-writing a mystery novel with James Patterson, Parton has proven herself to be a multi-talented artist.

However, one of her latest projects won't be heard for quite some time. In 2015, Parton recorded a song titled "My Place in History" to commemorate the opening of Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa. The song, which is locked in a time capsule, will not be available for listening until 2046 when the resort turns 31 and Parton herself turns 100.

The time capsule

The time capsule, which is on display at the resort, also contains a CD player – just in case CD players are no longer in use in the future. Along with the CD and CD player, the time capsule also holds a piece of wood from the front porch of Parton's childhood home.

“'You’ll be long dead,'” Parton once quoted a business associate as saying in her 2020 book Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. “I said, ‘Well, maybe not. I’ll be 99. I’ve seen people live to be older than that.’…It’s kind of weird or strange that they would ask me to write this mystery song.

I don’t know if I want to live to be 100 or not. But you never know. I might, and if I do, I’m going to be at that opening”. While some time capsules are typically buried, Parton's is on display in a chestnut box for all to see.

However, Parton has expressed concern that the materials inside the time capsule may be damaged before the designated reveal date and has even considered opening it early. “I figure it’ll probably disintegrate, probably nobody ever hears it,” she said in 2022.

“That’s what bothers me, to think that it’s gonna be a song that nobody’s ever gonna hear if it rots in there before they open it,” Parton said in 2022.