Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music and Entertainment
Dolly Parton and the Prophecy that Triggered Her Faith

Dolly Parton and the Prophecy that Triggered Her Faith

Last updated on: November 15, 2019 at 3:45 pm by DeWayne Hamby

Dolly Parton and the Prophecy that Triggered Her Faith 2019-11-15T15:45:12-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Dolly Parton is on another roll, and she’s giving all the credit to God. The music and entertainment superstar has been riding a new pop culture wave, celebrating her 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with an upcoming NBC concert special, a sit-down primetime interview with Robin Roberts on ABC, co-hosting with Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire and performing on the CMA Awards, and recent collaborations with Swedish dance group Galantis and Christian singers for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams. Along with her business partner Sam Haskell (“Coat of Many Colors,” “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love”), she’s also releasing an imaginative new series on Netflix called “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” centering on eight of her songs such as “Jolene,” “Two Doors Down” and “These Old Bones,” the latter of which features “Bones,” an old woman who spoke a prophecy over Parton when she was a young girl.

Dolly Parton poses with Kathleen Turner, who portrays “Bones” in “These Old Bones” from “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.” Image courtesy of Tina Rowden/Netflix.

The singer, songwriter, producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian has come a long way from her humble beginnings in Sevier County, Tennessee. It was there as a young girl when she began developing her talent, but more importantly, her faith. Along with a few other faith media outlets, I recently had the chance to sit down with Parton in her suite at the Dream More Resort at Dollywood, where she discussed her calling as an entertainer and how that early prophecy impacted her faith in God and her incredible career.

I loved how you talked about how you were told that you were going to be anointed. Looking back on your career where you’ve inspired so many people and done so many amazing things. What do you think that meant?

When I was a kid, we grew up in the church. My grandpa was a Pentecostal preacher. So, healing and praying and being anointed and all that stuff was nothing new to us because we survived because of our faith in God to get us through. But I remember when people used to pray, in our church, they’d anoint with oil, pray for the sick or whatever. I had been hearing people say, “Anoint someone with oil.” But when that old lady told me I was anointed, I didn’t know what that meant, I was just thinking that was like with olive oil. But Mama said, “No, that means that God has his hand on you, and you may do something special.” That triggered a faith in me because I believed that I was supposed to do something good, especially after she told me. I thought “Well, then this is my responsibility. I’m going to do something good.” So, I kind of held that also in the back of my mind, whether that was predestined or not or whether I just took that little grain of faith and made that so for myself. Either way, it worked. And I never let go of that because I always felt responsible to God that I was supposed to be doing something for God. I still feel like that and I’m still doing it trying to do . . . sinning all the way (laughs), but trying my best, though. Asking for forgiveness, seventy times seven.

You run circles around about anybody else I know as far as what you’re producing, putting out music, doing duets, movies and now “Heartstrings.” What drives you to do that? You could actually sit back and just take it easy. I know that faith content was a big deal because I was in a press conference with you a few years ago when you said you wanted to put more of that out.

I do. I actually live on spiritual energy creative and spiritual energy, because I do go a lot. I work hard. I work really, really hard. But I love my work. When you go through family problems or heartaches, personal things, it’s always hard. But that’s when you actually have to lean on God for even more. But I really feel like I have a calling. I always felt I had a mission. I don’t know what all it is. But I feel like God told me early on, that feeling that I was supposed to go until He told me to stop, and He ain’t said nothing yet about quitting. So I ain’t said nothing about retiring yet. But I just know that I will go until I can’t go anymore. Because I do believe that I can give something to this world. I want to. I tried to. And even when I’m physically not strong enough to actually be doing it, I still depend on that spirit. I can still rely on that and God. Even when I think I can’t go on out that stage, because I feel so bad physically, as soon as I get there, I just get lifted up in spirit and just feel like I’m on that spiritual plane. And that’s what I rely on. I always have and I always will. And until God says stop, I’ll keep going.

As you’re putting together something like “Heartstrings,” how does your faith play into that? You know, what are you praying for people to take away or?

Well, every day, I pray that, whether it’s praying for God to lead me and to take out all the wrong thing wrong people in my life, or bring all the right things right people in and to let me glorify Him and uplift mankind, that I will do something in this world to make it a little better than it was and let me be a light and a vessel to be used. It all comes from our spiritual background, but I just want to do what I can do in this world to make things better if I can, and I’m in a position to do it. If you get in a position to help, you should help. And at my age, and with everything going on, I just think this is a good time, with all the darkness going on in the world right now, and all the bad stuff going on. It’s always been going on, but now we see it all, because of social media. Anything happens today, and you see it in a second. Before, lots of bad things have been going on forever, of course. But right here in our own world and our own times, I just think there’s enough of that they’re going to all be doing that. So, somebody like me, if you write, and if you can say something, make a little change, even if it’s subtle, it’s better than doing nothing. So, I’m just going to continue to do that. And I just feel like that’s a good place for me to be right now. Well, I’m no angel, no doubt about. But I still feel like I’m in a good position to do stuff I can write. And I can express myself in the ways that I do.

Dolly Parton appears in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. Image courtesy of Tina Rowden/Netflix.

When my daughters saw “Christmas of Many Colors,” I thought they were not going to sit through the whole thing. They got to the end of it and one of my girls, the first time I’ve ever seen this, she was laughing and then just started crying, boo hoo crying. I told two different people and they said that was a that’s the Holy Spirit. So I just wanted to tell you that because you’re talking about being anointed and being used, and I feel like you were

Well, those two movies, “Coat of Many Colors” and “Circle of Love” Christmas movie, those are very personal to me. I’m sure you all know Sam Haskell, my partner, and my executive producer. We worked really, really hard on those movies. And we both put a lot into it. And he’s very faith-based as well and has a lot of faith. We both felt really, really moved, that this movie had done what we had hoped that it would do, that it would bring people to, not to us, but a spiritual connection for faith-based based people, and for what Christmas is about to us. I never tried to shove my religion down anybody’s throat, I’m not even that religious, but I’m very spiritual and I grew up in a religious background. But I just think it’s important that people, there is a God-light in all of us. There’s a God core or whatever, if you’re a scientist, you may just call it something, it doesn’t matter. There’s something bigger and better than us. And we need to connect to that to make us better people. And you know, the more you can draw from that, the better off you are not just for yourself, but for all the things and people that you can touch by believing that and that big part of people believe in something. I just do and I just try to live an example and like I say, write an example. I’m able to write and express myself in so many ways. If I’ve touched somebody, then that’s great. Then I feel like I’ve done something good and it makes me feel better about myself. And it makes me feel like I’m hopefully doing something right and makes me want to continue and that’s why I probably won’t ever retire. I’d have to be knocked off my feet or be sick. I would. I’ve often said the only way I would not be working—I would never say I’m retired—was that if I had to pull back some if my husband was not well or if I was not well. But as soon as I could I would want to work again but I would still be writing, I’d still no matter what wherever I’m at. I’d still be creating something.

So you talk about your spirituality, your connection to God and being anointed. Is there a time in your life where you can look back and say, “Wow, God’s hand was so clearly on this point in time”? Where’s the time in your life where you’ve been like, tangibly see God’s hand over you?

I have felt I feel that all the time, even when I’m going through really hard times. I have to kind of try to see what God is trying to teach me, whether it be illness in the family or personal things that I go through. I try to look at it like this—there’s something I’m supposed to be learning about this because I know God is not trying to be cruel to me. I keep thinking I’m supposed to be knowing something, I’m supposed to be learning something. I’m supposed to be becoming a bigger person being taught responsibility or patience and stuff. For me, my whole life, I’ve just kind of run free and had the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do. I’ve always just done that. But then there comes a time when you have to be responsible for other things or other people. And you think, “Well, this is going to teach me about what kind of person I am.” I just know that everything I go through, I like to feel like I’ll come out of it better if I’m if I make it through it, I’ll be a better person because of it. I just kind of look at even the bad times as something I just have to go through and it’s just like that story about the footprints in the sand. He didn’t leave me, or He was carrying me. I either left him or He was carrying me. So that’s kind of how I look at that. I try to remember all those sayings and things that you know when I think, “Well, where are you God?” He says, “Well I’m down here with the people.”

Dreaming is a big theme and something You talk a lot about, what are you dreaming up now?

Well, I’m dreaming of a good night’s sleep. I’m dreaming of a big ole pan of mashed potatoes. And there’s some truth in that, too. I’ve been working so hard I’ve about lost my voice doing all this 50th anniversary and all the stuff we’ve been working on. It’s like I said, I have to dream myself into a corner. I have to be responsible. My dreams have all come true and now I’ve got to work on a new dream, bring on new dreams. Every day I wake up with new dreams. With my brand, we’re going to do some clothes, cosmetics, wigs, and get into more of that mailbox money, they call it, where I can just kind of let my brand (work). But I still have to be working with that too on the creative end of that and development. I’m going to try to get more into doing more uplifting songs, just like the “God Only Knows” and “Faith in Me” and the “There Was Jesus.” Not all religious songs, but just songs that are kinder, more fun, more uplifting, make you feel good about yourself, make you feel good about other people, about life and so I’m hoping to, you know, to try to spread a little light.

You are.

Trying to.

Click here for more Dolly Parton coverage on Reel Faith.

DEWAYNE HAMBY is a communications specialist and longtime journalist covering faith-based music, entertainment, books, and the retail industry. He is the author of the book “Gratitude Adjustment.” Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or InstaGram.

Below, during another session of the “Heartstrings” press junket, Dolly discusses being an inspiration to the younger generations:

Dolly Parton's Heartstrings

Netflix

Previous Post

November 13, 2019

Review: A Family Clings to Hope Through Tragedy in 'Waves'

Next Post

November 14, 2019 'Neighborhood' Scribes Discuss the Strong, Quiet Faith of Mister Rogers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What spice was brought by the wise men to Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mint Pepper Cinnamon Myrrh