Dolly Parton Disclosed Her Sentiments About Turning 75: ‘I Didn't Let the Number Slow Me Up Any’

Dec 21, 2021

When it comes to country music royalty, Dolly Parton is easily one of the most iconic names in the business. Known for her impeccable songwriting skills and unique singing voice, Parton has been a huge influence on the music industry for decades with hits such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “Coat of Many Colors.” She also penned and originally recorded “I Will Always Love You” in 1973 before it was later made famous by vocal powerhouse Whitney Houston in 1992.

Along with being a singer and songwriter, Parton is also best known for her work as an actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian. She has been a pivotal figure in the industry for more than five decades, with her debut album being released in 1967. With so much time in the spotlight has come ample time for Parton to become a role model to many, as she has always made an effort to make a positive impact on the world with both her music and her personal actions.

Born on Jan. 19, 1946, Parton was raised in Tennessee and was the fourth of twelve children, and grew up pretty poor. However, she had a real passion for music and moved to Nashville the day after she graduated from high school, embarking on what would become a lifelong career. Today, Parton is 75 years old and was named one of PEOPLE’s People of the Year in 2021 for her philanthropic contributions and her overall state as a true icon. Read on to find out more about Parton and how she felt about reaching the milestone age and accomplishment.

As a musical legend and a kind-hearted person, Parton has time and again reached milestones in her long-lasting career. In December 2021, PEOPLE announced that the songwriting legend herself was one of their People of the Year. At 75 years old, it’s clear that Parton is busier than ever with her ever-expanding career and contributions to the betterment of society.

According to PEOPLE, Parton has several new career ventures she’s embarking on currently and in the upcoming year, with a successful beauty business and fragrance and a new production with Netflix. She also co-authored a book with James Patterson, which is set to be released in early 2022.

“I keep dreaming myself into a corner,” Parton said. “But I can’t stop now. I’ve learned you can’t just say, ‘Oh, my dream’s come true and I’m walking out of here.’ No, you’ve got to show you’re grateful and show that you’re not going to just leave it all in the hands of other people.”

With so many projects in the works, Parton also opened up about what it’s like being a boss. “I’m a good boss, I think,” she said. “I try to rule with love and compassion. But also, there’s a fine line that says, ‘She’s not a pushover.’ I’m a fair and honest person. I like to be as friendly as I can and love the people that work with me and I like to have them love me.” Parton added, “I don’t want anybody to be afraid to come to me.”

Along with staying busy with her career, Parton has also been extremely active as a philanthropist and humanitarian throughout her lifetime, especially during the past few years. According to PEOPLE, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University in Nashville to fund research for the Moderna vaccine. She also raised $700,000 for flood victims following the detrimental floods in Tennessee. The singer-songwriter has also donated almost 170 million books to children under the age of 5 due to her Imagination Library project.

“I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” Parton said. “Knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else.” However, she admitted that being one of PEOPLE’s People of the Year was “a lot of pressure,” and that she just wanted to set a good example for others.

At 75 years old, Parton is beautiful both inside and out and explained that, to her, age is just a number. “I’ve learned that being 75 is not as bad as I thought it might be when you think about numbers,” she said, as per Yahoo News. “I think I’ve been surprised at how excited I still am and how motivated I still am and how I didn’t let the number slow me up any. I think I was just surprised at the number that I could actually be 75 years old.”

It’s clear that Parton is grateful for all of the opportunities she’s been given, as well as the many adventures she’s been able to embark on and has no plans on stopping any time soon. She said, “So, I’m going to be right here, doing what I’m doing, ‘til I fall over dead.”

What do you think about Dolly Parton’s feelings on turning 75? Are you excited about her upcoming career adventures? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family members and friends, too.