Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80, left behind a surprise for fans — a never-before-heard song she recorded over 10 years ago and has kept locked up in a box, with instructions not to open it until what would have marked her 100th birthday.
The country music singer and pop star wrote and recorded the unreleased song in 2015, the same year that Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The song is titled “My Place in History” and remains locked away inside a box at the resort in Tennessee. Parton also included instructions that no one is to open the box until Jan. 19, 2046, according to reports.
During a 2022 appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Parton confirmed the existence of the secret song, explaining the decision to seal it away.
“We do a lot of things at Dollywood, and one year we thought about that,” Parton told Fallon. “They asked me if I would write a song that nobody would ever hear — I’ll be dead and gone.”
“Well, I might not be cause I’ll be 99,” the singer added. “You know me, I might still be hopping around.”
Parton said the secret song is stored on a CD and that she included a CD player in the box, along with instructions on how to play it. The singer then joked that she wished she could dig up the song and replace it with something else, saying that the one she has locked away was “a really good song.”
“If any of you are around when they open that box, well, I hope you enjoy my song,” she said to Fallon’s audience.
During her lifetime, the legendary singer-songwriter won 11 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards and seven Academy of Country Music Awards, among numerous other honors. In addition to her music, Parton starred in various films and was known for her philanthropic efforts, including her Imagination Library literacy program.
Throughout her career, Parton was open about her faith in God, telling The Christian Post in a 2019 interview that she felt she had a responsibility to use her gifts for Him and others.
Following Parton’s death earlier this week, numerous Christian artists took to social media to mourn the passing of the beloved singer, whose notable hits include the songs “Jolene” and “9 to 5.”
Christian singer Zach Williams, who recorded the Grammy-winning duet “There Was Jesus” with Parton, said that the late music star influenced him and countless other artists.
“Dolly, your songs, your faith, and the way you loved people impacted me more than you probably ever will know,” Williams wrote. “You showed all of us that success didn’t have to change your heart, and that we could use what God gave us to make life a little better for somebody else.”
“Thank you for the road you paved, the music you gave us, and the example you set for artists like me,” he continued. “Country music, and my own journey wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Country singer and Christian artist Carrie Underwood also paid tribute to Parton, describing her as “the epitome of faith, grace, talent, beauty and humor.”
Underwood added that Parton “had a humble heart for Jesus and made everyone around her feel special,” reflecting that the late music icon was “probably the one person on planet Earth that everyone loved and could agree on.” She declared that Parton was “a one of one and no one will ever come close.”
“It’s alright to be sad that this world lost a legend, but heaven gained an angel,” Underwood concluded. “Well done, good and faithful Dolly. Welcome home.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
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