At one time, country music consisted of stars like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Waylon Jennings. But like any genre, the music started to change as the decades passed. Setting the path for future generations, country music now features singers like Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, and Jelly Roll. Although ushering in a new age of country music, the genre still features acts like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. For Dolly, she not only watched country music grow, she helped fashion the genre. And while some might not like the direction country music is heading, Dolly promised the genre will always exist.
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Sitting down with Elle to talk about her expansive career in country music, Dolly discussed the growth of the genre in the last few years. Seeing the change happening, the icon said, “I will always love country music. I love all the days of Hank Williams, and all the early, early days. George Jones, and of course Merle Haggard, all those wonderful, wonderful artists of that day. Everything has to change, and country music has changed a lot.”
Dolly Parton Proud Of What Country Music Accomplished
Not afraid of the future, Dolly explained how the past helped inspire future singers in country music. “There’s going to always be those young people that latch on to Hank Williams and go back and do some of that.”
Outside of the massive changes in country music, Dolly also pointed to how the genre was perceived. “Country music used to be thought of as an old hokey kind of music. I love the fact that now, it is one of the most loved musics in the whole wide world.”
While excited about what the future held, Dolly appeared hopeful when it came to the timelessness of country music. “I’m just proud to say that we’ve still got country music, we still love it, and they’re still calling it country music, even if it sounds more rock and pop. Country music’s going to always exist in one form or another. I’m going to see to it as long as I live.”
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