Country legend Dolly Parton loves kids, there's no doubt about that, but when asked why she
never had any of her own, the answer is simple: It wasn't in God's plan.
Over the years, fans have wondered why the singer/songwriter and her husband of more
than five decades, Carl Dean, never chose to become parents. Parton has even asked herself
the same question. Apparently, she and Dean did talk about expanding their family when
they first got married in 1966, but some health issues got in the way.
Parton told The Guardian in 2014...
"If we'd had a girl, she was gonna be called Carla...Anyway, we talked about it, and we
dreamed it, but it wasn't meant to be."
In her thirties, Parton underwent a partial hysterectomy and found out she couldn't have
children. According to Made For Mums, Parton said in an interview…
"Suddenly I was a middle-aged woman. I went through a dark time, until I made myself snap
out of it...We never did think of adopting. I guess I didn't have the time. I had my career...I
had younger brothers and sisters, so I had that responsibility and that joy and that
duty."
Parton may not have had her own children but her loving nature and outgoing personality
made her the ideal babysitter. She's always been a favorite aunt, a cool grandmother figure,
and an all-around fun adult to be around. Let's not forget that she's Miley Cyrus' godmother
and has continuously been a part of her life.
Besides her goddaughter, Parton has often talked about spending time with other people's
kids, telling The Huffington Post…
"I'm the perfect grandma, I'm the perfect aunt, I'm the perfect babysitter, because
I don't have children. So I bring them over to visit me by choice...If they get out of
line, all I have to do is imply that I'll take them home or call their mom to come get
them."
Not only is Parton drawn to children, the kiddos can't get enough of her. In addition
to her endless enthusiasm and child-like sense of wonder, she told Today that there are other
reasons kids gravitate towards her.
"I have that high-pitched voice. I'm overexaggerated. I look like Mother Goose or, you know, one
of those over-exaggerated cartoon characters, and kids just kinda relate to that."
It also sounds like Parton has the type of home that any kid would love to visit. She
told The Times U.K. in 2010…
"You wouldn't believe my place!...I got tree houses. I got caves. I love to babysit 'cause
it gives me a chance to play."
In addition to entertaining kids, Parton has dedicated a big part of her life to caring
for them. She founded a nonprofit organization called the Imagination Library. It's a community-based
reading initiative that mails a free book every month to children from the day they're
born until they reach the age of 5.
Her charity has donated more than 100 million books and earned her a nickname that she's
very proud of: "the book lady." The library's literacy mission is very personal to Parton
because her father never learned to read or write, which always troubled him.
Parton elaborated on Good Morning America…
"And so I wanted to do something special for him, so I got the idea to start this program
and let my dad help me with it."
Parton's work for kids doesn't end there. In 2017, she released a children's album titled
I Believe in You. Many of the songs are personal and address important issues, like bullying
and childhood illness.
Parton told The Huffington Post that releasing a children's album has been a goal of hers
for years.
"I've had children's songs by the stacks for years...I write songs for Imagination Library
with all the books that we put out and then I write personal songs for my little nieces
and nephews and friends, so it just seemed to be a good time."
There's yet another treat that Parton put together for kids and their parents. In the
spring of 2020, she started Goodnight with Dolly, a virtual story time series to help
entertain all the youngsters stuck at home. It features the superstar relaxing in her
bedroom and reading from her favorite children's books.
Looking back on her life, Parton told Today that fate led her to become a mother to many
children, instead of just a mother to her own.
"Well, God has a plan for everything. But I said that I think it probably was his plan
for me not to have kids, so everybody's kids could be mine. And they are now."
In 2020, Parton celebrated her 74th birthday, and she's on top of the world. The queen of
country still has a booming music career. She's a very successful businesswoman, a generous
philanthropist and is surrounded by her loving family, countless fans, and plenty of kids.
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