Dolly Parton Says She’s Pausing Songwriting After Her Husband’s Death

Dolly Parton has put songwriting “on hold” following her husband Carl Dean’s death back in March.

During her guest appearance on Khloé Kardashian’s Khloé in Wonder Land podcast on Wednesday, Parton discussed the craft of songwriting and how it helps her feel connected to a higher power. When Kardashian asked if Parton has ever struggled with writer’s block or completing a song, Parton responded, “My husband passed away three months ago. … Several things I’ve wanted to start, but I can’t do it. I will later, but I’m just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas. But I think I won’t finish it.”

She continued: “I can’t do it right now because I’ve got so many other things that I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now. So there are times like that, things like that that will start here a little bit, but I’ll write something else, though, if it comes. So I’m just putting that all on hold.”

While Parton may be taking a brief pause on songwriting, she was happy to delve into some of her philosophies on the practice. “Everything begins with a story or a song. Every movie, you’ve got to have a great story. It doesn’t matter how great the actress is or the actor, doesn’t matter how great the director is — if you don’t have a good story, you don’t have a project,” Parton told Kardashian. “Same with a song, all the great singers — some of them write, some of them don’t — but you’ve got to have a great song.” She added, “So I think that’s one of the reasons I love to to write, because I feel like I’m so connected to God right then.”

Elsewhere in her chat with Kardashian, Parton discussed her childhood and her upbringing, the challenge of balancing a public and private life with her late husband Dean, and more. Parton also brought up an anecdote of her grandfather commenting on her love of makeup: “Well, don’t you want to go to heaven?” to which she replied, “Yeah, but do I have to look like hell to get there?” Check out the full episode here.

After Dean’s passing earlier this year, Parton shared the mournful “If You Hadn’t Been There” commemorating their lengthy relationship and their unbreakable bond. She hasn’t released an album since 2023’s Rockstar, though she is currently working on a musical based on her life. She’ll return to the stage this winter for a December residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; get tickets to see Dolly Parton here.