Dolly Parton’s attitude towards aging and making life count are words to live by

Dolly Parton has shared an empowering message on why she wouldn’t trade her years for youth

Dolly Parton has shared some advice on aging
(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Dolly Parton is perfectly happy being in her 70s – and she wouldn’t turn back the clock even if she had the choice.

The country icon has shared some poignant and moving words on why she thinks the power of youth might be overrated.

The Jolene hitmaker celebrated her 77th birthday in January, and it’s something she wears with pride.

Dolly Parton wouldn't trade her years to be younger even if she could

(Image credit: Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty Images)

As she spoke with Insider regarding how she feels about getting older, Dolly shared that she stands by the belief that "wisdom comes with age, and you can't stop the aging process, nor the numbers.”

She added, "Honestly — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — when I see young people today and I see what they're going to have to go through, especially in this day and time, I would honestly rather be this age than that age.”

"The way I live, the way I work, the way I feel, I'm going to make every moment count," Dolly then added.

"I may live to be 100 or I may die tomorrow, but whenever that is, I will know I died trying, and I will know I've done everything I could to make the most of everything.”

"As long as I stay healthy, the numbers shouldn't matter. I don't feel my age, I don't work my age, I don't think my age and, hopefully, I don't look my age," she noted.

Throughout her multi-media spanning career, she's earned a total of 53 Grammy nominations with 10 wins. She’s also starred in some truly iconic movies, including Steel Magnolias and 9 to 5, produced a Broadway hit, donated over 100 million books to children through her Imagination Library charity, and, if all that wasn’t enough, built her own theme park attraction, Dollywood.

Proving that her powerful message of making the moments count even as she gets older, Dolly is showing zero sign of slowing down.

Dolly is showing no signs of slowing down

(Image credit: Vijat Mohindra/NBC via Getty Images)

Last year, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, putting on a blinder of a show where she shredded the guitar and belted out some hits.

And, on New Year’s Eve, her legendary see-through dress as she teamed up with goddaughter Miley Cyrus for a rousing performance of Jolene and Wrecking Ball proved that she could more than just keep up with the younger generations.

She’s also gearing up for the release of her very own rock inspired album, something the 9 to 5 singer has called “the best work of her career.”

 “I really think it’s some of the best work I’ve ever done,” Dolly shared when she sat down with Hoda Kotb on The Today Show. “I think so. Only because it’s different for me. I wanted it to be good.”

Rumored songs on the track list include Stairway to Heaven and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, while she’s reportedly roped in the likes of Cher and Paul McCartney to duet with.

Dolly really is making every moment count!

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.


Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.