Dolly Parton left behind unreleased song meant to be heard on her 100th birthday

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s death on August 25 has been quite tough to fathom. Amid the tributes and remembrances, a new detail about the legendary singer’s unreleased track. 

The iconic singer and beloved personality left behind a song that she had planned to release on her 100th birthday. She even planned how the recording would be played.

Unfortunately, Parton died at the age of 80 after a “brief battle with cancer.”

Dolly Parton left unreleased song locked away for her 100th birthday before her death at 80

As per Business Insider, into a nondescript archway at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort sits an unreleased Parton song written by her as her last track for her audience. Speaking about the location, the archway sits in the lower-level lobby.

As per reports, a chestnut "Dream Box" in a glass case contains a recording of "My Place In History.' The final song is set to be released on her 100th birthday. "I don't know if I want to live to be 100 or not. But you never know," Parton wrote in her 2020 book, 'Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics.' 

"I might, and if I do, I'm going to be at that opening," she added. The singer wrote and recorded it back in 2015, the same year the resort opened. Parton spoke about the unusual project in her 2020 book, saying that she hated the idea of leaving one of her tracks unheard for decades.

"It would be a song that will never be heard until 30 years from the time we opened the resort," she wrote, per American Songwriter. "They said, 'You'll be long dead.' I said, 'Well, maybe not. I'll be 99. I've seen people live to be older than that.'"

She once said that keeping her songs locked away feels like losing something important. "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," she shared. "It's just burning me up inside that I have to leave it in there."

As per reports, she placed a CD player inside the box alongside the CD containing the track. "There's no telling what music is going to be by then," Parton wrote in her book. "Hopefully, it will play and the whole thing ain't rotted."

Dolly Parton, country music icon and humanitarian, dies at 80

According to Dolly Parton’s official X page, a lengthy post was shared on Wednesday, August 26, featuring a monochrome image of the singer with the words “Always with you” and her signature written across the image. 

The third paragraph of the statement reads: "A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family."

"Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact," it continues.

"At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at http://dollyparton.com."       

At the end of the statement, it reads, "In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at http://imaginationlibrary.com."