NASHVILLE: Country music legend Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 80, leaving behind an unreleased song locked inside a wooden “Dream Box” that is not scheduled to be opened until her 100th birthday in 2046.
The song, titled “My Place in History,” was written and recorded by Parton in 2015 as a musical time capsule for future generations. She placed the recording on a CD and sealed it inside a chestnut wood box at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A CD player was also included so the song could still be played decades later.
The Dream Box remains displayed behind glass in the resort’s lower-level lobby. Along with the unreleased recording, the box contains a piece of wood from the porch of Parton’s childhood home, connecting the future musical surprise to the humble Tennessee roots that shaped her life and career.
Parton had hoped she would live long enough to hear the song herself. In her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, she joked about whether she would reach 100 and said she planned to attend the opening if she did.
The recording is expected to remain sealed until Jan. 19, 2046, when Parton would have turned 100. Her death means fans and future generations may eventually hear a song that only Parton knew for more than a decade.
Parton’s death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an emotional video shared on her Instagram account. Seaver, who served as her head of security for more than two decades after his father held the role, said Parton had asked him years ago to make the announcement when the time came.
The US President has shared that he plans to order that US flags be lowered to half-mast to honour Dolly Parton.
“Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest country singers, and far beyond, ever, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” the President wrote.
Tributes quickly followed, including one from singer Sabrina Carpenter, who remembered Parton as an “angel” and praised her warmth, humor, wisdom and extraordinary talent.
Parton died after a brief battle with cancer in Nashville after a career spanning more than seven decades. She became one of country music’s most celebrated singers and songwriters, with classics including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” She also built a lasting philanthropic legacy through literacy initiatives and other charitable work.
