Dolly Parton Wrote a Song That Won’t Be Released Until 2045
Among all of the accolades and attributes tied to country music’s patron saint Dolly Parton, perhaps her most lasting and impressive contribution is her songwriting. Over 3,000 published compositions have been penned by Dolly personally, including some of the most popular and important songs in American music history.
But there is one song from the Dolly Parton catalog we won’t get to hear any time soon. That’s because it’s purposely been locked away in a chestnut wood box made by her uncle Bill, and placed in a glass display case at Dolly’s DreamMore Resort at Dollywood that was opened in 2015. That’s right, on a CD is an unheard, unreleased track, recorded and ready to go, that won’t be revealed until 2045, or 30 years after the DreamMore Resort first opened its doors.
Dolly Parton tells the story of the unreleased song in her new book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, saying, “They said, ‘You’ll be long dead,’ Well, maybe not. I’ll be 99. I’ve seen people live to be older than that. So I wrote this song, and I can’t say what it is. That’s like burying one of my kids, putting it on ice or something, and I won’t be around to see it brought back to life. It’s just burning me up that I have to leave it in there.”
Also interesting is that they had the foresight to also include a CD player in the box, just in case the technology at that time moves so far past CDs or physical product, they won’t be able to procure a player to hear it. “There’s no telling what music is going to be by then,” Dolly says. “Hopefully, it will play and the whole thing ain’t rotted.”
Dolly Parton is about to hit a big milestone, turning 75 on Tuesday, January 19th. If she lives to be 100, she’ll be able to witness the unveiling of the mystery song herself. “If I do, I’m going to be at that opening.”
January 17, 2021 @ 11:17 am
Someone will leak it by the end of the week…
January 17, 2021 @ 11:21 am
We’ve known about this for months.
No ego there …
January 17, 2021 @ 11:58 am
Reminds of a older actor that said something about a movie he has buried and won’t be shown until he dies or something along those lines.
Christopher Walken i believe.
January 18, 2021 @ 1:15 pm
By then will there be devices to play it on? Well I guess only in a museum.
January 18, 2021 @ 1:57 pm
That’s why they included a CD player with the CD.
January 17, 2021 @ 12:14 pm
That’s cool. She’s got style.
She might make it to 99, silicone last a long time…
January 17, 2021 @ 1:00 pm
What an odd gimmick. I also get the impression that nobody who thought up this scheme is aware of degradations that will affect compact discs over that span of time (Dolly says she hopes it doesn’t rot, but I sincerely doubt she’s specifically referring to disc rot). And if the disc is burned rather than pressed at a plant, the potential for it being unreadable in 2045 jump up exponentially.
I read the article but I missed the part where anybody explained the purpose of doing this?
January 17, 2021 @ 1:26 pm
Why do people do time capsules? In the end it’s just a fun, silly little marketing scheme to promote her resort. I think it’s kind of interesting though. I think big artists should do more of this kind of stuff. Apparently there’s still 300-400 unreleased songs from Merle Haggard somewhere in a vault. Loretta Lynn has been recording music for release after her eventual passing. I guess it’s sort of morbid, but it makes a lot of sense.
January 17, 2021 @ 2:09 pm
And why haven’t any of those Merle songs been released? 3 to 400 songs is a ridiculous amount to be sitting there doing nothing. Interest in Merle is high right now, so put a double album out and let us enjoy some of those riches.
The Dolly thing is harmless enough, why not.
January 17, 2021 @ 3:57 pm
It worked out for those newly released Randy Travis songs, but he didn’t do it on purpose so people are more receptive to those!
January 17, 2021 @ 4:08 pm
“Lost Highway” and “There’s a Tear in My Beer” were songs that were originally not released by Hank Williams, but surfaced years later. There are many other examples, but it’s always cool when you get an unearthed gem from the past.
January 17, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
Fair enough. And I didn’t mean it to be a criticism as much as I’m just a little perplexed. That said, most unreleased gems from yesteryear don’t come with a press release.
January 18, 2021 @ 8:04 am
30th anniversary of her DreamMore resort
January 18, 2021 @ 6:02 am
Maybe the song lyrics are very revealing in some way.
January 18, 2021 @ 8:14 pm
Das ist ein Stil sich bis zur Veröffentlichung unsterblich zu machen. Ich habe mein Lebensbuch bis 92 Jahre gefūllt und glaube daran. Dreiviertel Jahrhundert habe ich auch schon fast geschafft. Das war und ist Lebensplanung vom feinsten dank unseres Unterbewusstseins. Das ist keine Esoterik, das ist reale Lebenskunst!
September 2, 2021 @ 10:26 am
I’m sure the CD in the box a Dream More is not the only copy of the song. The master is undoubtedly stored with the rest of Dolly’s hundreds of recorded but not yet released songs. it wouldn’t surprise me if the box at the resort is actually empty.
January 17, 2021 @ 4:00 pm
I think it’s so ridiculous to wait 35 years to release a song.
January 18, 2021 @ 2:20 am
Still better than a Curb Record release
January 18, 2021 @ 1:48 pm
She is very talented, kind hearted, lots of her money to people who need it- what’s the point in criticizing her. She is allowed to do what she wants as long as it isn’t hurting anyone. Same with you!
January 18, 2021 @ 9:17 pm
I Love Dolly and her art. She’s a nice beautiful lady, great voice and showmanship. Hooray for her. I used to get teased for listening to Dolly’s songs. LOVE ME SOME DOLLY AND HER MUSIC.
January 17, 2021 @ 4:09 pm
Smart lady and sings like a songbird. Love to hear sing . Way to go dolly
January 17, 2021 @ 4:21 pm
Love her! Cool! ????
January 17, 2021 @ 7:56 pm
Luv how she csn judt sing without music
January 17, 2021 @ 4:59 pm
I’m sure CD players will still be around.
Heck, vinyl record players & cassettes are still a hot item
Very cool idea!!
January 17, 2021 @ 5:43 pm
So, I got rid of my eight-tracks too early?????
January 17, 2021 @ 5:46 pm
Dolly’s music has always been at the top of my list of favorites. Hope I’m around to enjoy this mystery song that is locked up till 2045, this will close the book to the few thousand songs Dolly has already given to the world. I for one, love you
Dolly, you’ve been a true blessing to the world. Happy 75th Birthday, on Tuesday 01/19/2021⚘
January 17, 2021 @ 6:30 pm
SON OF GOD BLESST. I BEEN WATCHING YOU. ON UR. WRITING SONG’S. STAY UP LATE DOING UR OWN PUT IT DOWN. MUSIC STUDY HARD. ADMIRE YOU MUCH STRONG WOMEN. WELL I GOT TO GET OUTA SIGHT PRETTY BUSY HONEY. SEE YOU AROUND LATER. BYE. BABY LOVE ❤️????????❤️. TAKE care
January 17, 2021 @ 8:44 pm
I thought her birthday was actually tomorrow, Monday, January 18?
Anyway, whatever day it is, I hope it’s happy.
January 17, 2021 @ 9:31 pm
75 and she is still a beautiful lady! Hubba hubba
January 17, 2021 @ 9:48 pm
So you’re saying it’ll be released the same day as Hank III’s next album?
January 18, 2021 @ 10:48 am
Country music will be extinct by 2045.
January 18, 2021 @ 11:11 am
Not if I have anything to say about it.
January 18, 2021 @ 12:42 pm
The demographics suggests otherwise.
https://wearemitu.com/entertainment/latin-music-supasses-country-music/
January 19, 2021 @ 7:16 am
Latin music is on the rise, and will continue to be so, as long as more illegal aliens are allowed to continue invading the USA.
And as rap music and latin music slowly continue to merge, country music will be forced to conform to this style in order to stay afloat.
January 19, 2021 @ 3:59 pm
“Country Reggaton”
Coming soon to a country station near you..
September 22, 2023 @ 7:39 pm
It has also gotten worse since 2021.
The nation is finished.
January 18, 2021 @ 4:30 pm
You go girl love ya Dolly
January 18, 2021 @ 6:42 pm
Ive actually seen 8 track tapes and players at a record store in Baton Rouge La . just a few years ago . as well as a reel to reel still being used in a doctor’s office . coolest doctor I’ve every met .
January 19, 2021 @ 7:01 am
Good golly ms dolly
January 19, 2021 @ 7:25 am
Reel to reel and 8-track tape were fun while they lasted. Remember Quadraphonic? The earliest form of what now is surround sound.
January 19, 2021 @ 2:25 pm
ok
January 20, 2021 @ 12:21 pm
What if it’s just a live medley of Islands in the Stream and 9 to 5?