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Country music icon Dolly Parton has turned down multiple offers to join the judging panels of major singing competitions such as American Idol and The Voice. In a recent exclusive interview with E! News, the 79-year-old legend revealed her heartfelt reason for refusing the roles.
"I've been asked to do that a lot of times," Parton shared. "It's too hard for me. That's why I don't accept it, because I know how sincere everybody is. Even if they're not that good, they believe they are. And I just can't hurt people."
Though she has rejected permanent roles, Parton has made appearances as a guest mentor on both shows. She mentored contestants on American Idol during season seven in 2008, where participants performed her songs. She also appeared as a guest mentor on The Voice in 2015 and 2016.
Outside of television, Parton continues to dedicate herself to other creative pursuits. Her upcoming Broadway production, Dolly: An Original Musical, based on her life and career, is set to debut in 2026. Meanwhile, her beloved theme park, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, recently marked its 40th anniversary. Parton reminisced about the park's early days, saying, "I thought, well, what if they don't? What am I going to do? Then, I started seeing cars coming in... Now it's filling up all the time. And 40 years later, we've got them still coming."
Reflecting on the park's growth, she added, "It's like having a house full of kids. Every time something new goes in, it's like, 'Oh, we got a new baby... a new kid in the family.' But it's an amazing park and it's catered to families. And so we're proud of that."
In a May 2025 interview on The TODAY Show, Parton shared more personal reflections, including a recent emotional moment during a Dollywood parade. A video of a young boy's joyous reaction to seeing her went viral, and Parton recalled, "I just wanted to get off that cart and just squeeze him... Just getting to see the reaction and feeling all that love."
Still grieving the March 2025 loss of her husband Carl Dean, she admitted, "I got very emotional after the parade... I just got in the van and just boohooed for the longest time." Despite the grief, she remains focused: "I'm fine. And I'm very involved in my work."
Parton also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying, "I got so many cards, flowers. From all the world."
