Dolly Parton reveals she has never been far from home on Christmas despite missing other holidays
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton, a self-proclaimed Christmas enthusiast, has shared why she always makes it a priority to be home for the holidays.
During the promotion of her new book 'Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas', the 78-year-old country music icon explained that she would never accept a major deal if it meant missing out on the festive season.
Known for her three beloved Christmas albums and starring roles in several holiday films, Parton’s deep love for Christmas is woven throughout the heartwarming narrative of her latest work.
Dolly Parton says being home for Christmas is a cherished tradition
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In a recent interview with People, Dolly Parton opened up on why being home for Christmas is a cherished tradition she never misses, and how this ties into the heart of her new book.
She explained, "In this book, performers have the dilemma of whether we go on the road or whether we take shows for money, because so many artists get so much money offered to actually perform at certain things during the holiday season."
But for Parton, family comes first. "To love your family, and for that to be a family tradition. You always want to be home for Christmas, and that's kind of what this little book is about," she said.
Parton's new book, 'Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas', features a character named Billy the Kid, who is inspired by her beloved French Bulldog. In the story, Billy faces the same dilemma: whether to accept a lucrative gig or make it home for the holidays.
In a twist that mirrors her own life, Billy chooses family over fame. Parton shared more about the plot saying, ""Billy gets a big offer to work at the Barcafella Center, and so he's already promised that he'd be home for Christmas, and so eventually he gets there. But then there's a lot of fun, story and everything in between."
She added, "I love being home for Christmas, and so far I've missed all kinds of holidays, but to my knowledge I have never not been home for Christmas."
Dolly Parton reveals her favorite meals for holiday feasts
Fans of Dolly Parton can now enjoy her family’s holiday feasts thanks to her new cookbook, ‘Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals’. Released on September 24, the cookbook was created in collaboration with her sister, Rachel Parton George. It includes some of Dolly's favorite holiday dishes.
Dolly shared, "I always love everything we have to do at Christmas. So many of the things we have at Thanksgiving, you know, like the sage dressing and the giblet gravy and the mashed potatoes and the sweet potato bars."
When asked about her most cherished holiday meals, Dolly revealed, “I'm big on making a big old pot of chicken and dumplings, and everybody looks forward to that as well.”
Additionally, Dolly's new holiday book, 'Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas', co-written with Erica S Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, is now available on all online platforms.
