Dolly Parton Shares a Heartwarming Update That Fans Love

For Dolly Parton, all roads lead back to home. The country music icon shared this simple, heartwarming truth with her Instagram followers in July 2025, writing: “I still close my eyes and go home – I can always draw from that.” The post features a photo of Parton wearing a guitar over her shoulder and looking off into the distance.

Many fans in the post’s comments section deeply resonate with Parton’s message. “Home is where the [heart] is,” one fan wrote. Others dropped plenty of heart emojis or left sweet messages about what Parton and her music mean to them. “Love you Dolly, you’re simply the best!’ one fan said, echoing the sentiments of many others. The post comes soon after Parton announced a hiatus from songwriting, following the death of her husband, Carl Dean.

The Singer Brought a Piece of Home to Dollywood

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Of course, Parton’s life didn’t begin under the bright lights of Nashville. The singer has been open about her humble upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, including the fact that her family wasn’t financially well-off. “We didn’t have any money, but we were rich in things that money don’t buy,” she told Willie Geist in 2015. “You know, like love and kindness and understanding.” Her childhood home was a modest two-room cabin, which reportedly had no electricity or running water.

While Parton’s life today is a far cry from those beginnings, the world of her childhood still holds a special place in her memory. Visitors to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, can even visit a replica of the cabin in the theme park. Although it isn’t the exact cabin Parton grew up in, Business Insider reports that it still has a familiar touch. Her brother, Bobby, built the cabin, while their mother helped with the interior design.

Parton is Taking a Step Back From Songwriting

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While home is a clear source of inspiration for Parton, fans won’t be hearing any newly written songs from the singer in the near future. On an episode of Khloe in Wonderland, Parton broke the news to the host — and her fans. “I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things and I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now,” she said.

However, Parton said that writing is still a very important part of her life. “Everything begins with a story or a song,” she said. “I think that’s one of the reasons I love to write, because I feel so connected to God in those moments.”