The Real Reason Dolly Parton Never Had Kids

The loving, genuine, and magnetic 9 to 5 singer, Dolly Parton, has been married to beau Carl Dean since 1966 (via Amo Mama) and despite their love (and her obvious adoration of children), the two never had any of their own (via The Mix). Her clear devotion towards children can be found in her philanthropy projects, her children's album, and how she surrounds herself with their presence. Nevertheless, popular and iconic country superstar said that she's glad she and her husband never had kids. So, what's the reason for the Jolene singer and her doting husband's choice in not bearing any children of their own? Never private about her personal life, Parton tells the truth like it is — and the truth is very surprising. 

In a Glamour UK article, Parton disclosed that she and her husband did think about having kids when they first got married. "I grew up in a family of twelve, and there's eight children younger than me," she explained to HuffPost. So it's a bit surprising that the star decided to opt out of having a big family of her own. She said, "If we'd had a girl, she was gonna be called Carla... Anyway, we talked about it, and we dreamed it, but it wasn't meant to be." 

"You always wonder. My husband and I, when we first got married, we thought about if we had kids, what would they look like?" she said. "Would they be tall — because he's tall? Or would they be little squats like me?"

Now that the couple is older, they are glad they didn't have kids. Although Parton thinks she would have been a great mother, she would have given up on everything else. "Because I would've felt guilty about that, if I'd have left them [to work, to tour]," she said. "Everything would have changed. I probably wouldn't have been a star."

Although she's relieved about it now, when she was in her 30s, she was told she wouldn't be able to have children after a partial hysterectomy in 1984. This news deeply saddened her. "Suddenly I was a middle-aged woman," says Parton. "I went through a dark time, until I made myself snap out of it." The couple could have adopted but Parton says, "I guess I didn't have the time. I had my career and all, I had younger brothers and sisters, so I had that responsibility and that joy and that duty."

Despite not having her own children, kids still love her. Parton says her resemblance to Mother Goose is what makes kids want to be around her. "I have that high-pitched voice... I look like Mother Goose or one of those over-exaggerated characters, and kids just relate to that," she told Country Rebel. 

The singer-songwriter has devoted her life to taking care of children. Her charity, Imagination Library, and children's album I Believe in You, have helped children enormously. Her charity has donated 100 million books, and all proceeds from the album go to Imagination Library, which she started 22 years ago because her dad couldn't read or write. Parton is a family person through and through. "I write personal songs for my little nieces and nephews and friends, so it just seemed to be a good time," said Parton about her choice to make a children's album. Some of the songs on the album address bullying and how to be responsible. 

Because she grew up in such a large family, Parton understands children. "I'm the perfect grandma, I'm the perfect aunt, I'm the perfect babysitter, because I don't have children," she said about dealing with kids (via HuffPost). "So I bring them over to visit me by choice. They don't get dumped on me. And when I do keep them, if they get out of line, all I have to do is imply that I'll take them home or call their mom to come get them."

But the godmother of Miley Cyrus (and cool aunt) says she's decorated her house with kids in mind. "I got tree houses," she told MadeForMums. "I got caves. I love to babysit 'cause it gives me a chance to play." Although Parton was unable to have children of her own, she surrounds herself with them and invites them into her life. The singer is still living large and living fun surrounding herself with family and youngsters every day.