Dolly Parton is the queen of Christmas cheer! At 78, the country music legend is fully embracing the magic of the season and revealing just how much Christmas music means to her.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Parton shared her deep love for holiday tunes, saying, “I love all the Christmas songs. I love the fast ones, I love the slow ones.” The legendary performer’s festive favorites range from the soulful Silent Night to the playful Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, showcasing her diverse taste. “I just love all of that,” she adds with her trademark warmth.
Parton, known for her timeless voice and heartwarming spirit, also opened up about how she enjoys listening to her holiday favorites. “We all have either an Alexa or Siri or one of those kinds of things,” she says with a laugh. “I just always holler out, ‘Alexa, play holiday music for 12 hours in my house,’ or something like that. And I just like all of it.” For Parton, the holidays are all about immersing herself in festive tunes, filling her home with joy.
The Christmas season has long been a special time for Parton, who first released her holiday album Once Upon a Christmas with Kenny Rogers back in 1984. Her next solo Christmas collection, Home for Christmas, followed in 1990. But it wasn’t until 30 years later that fans were treated to her Holly Dolly Christmas, featuring hits like I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and Mary, Did You Know?
Over the years, Dolly has continued to spread Christmas cheer with original songs for holiday movies, such as Christmas at Dollywood (Hallmark Channel) and Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Netflix).
In addition to her music, Parton’s love for the holiday season is reflected in her latest children’s book, Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas. The book, a sequel to Billy the Kid Makes It Big, was released ahead of the season and follows the adventures of her beloved character, Billy the Kid. The holiday-themed story adds to Parton’s long-standing tradition of sharing the magic of Christmas with audiences of all ages.
Parton’s passion for education and literacy is just as strong as her love for the holidays. Since founding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995, she has made sure children around the world have access to free books each month, no matter their background.
With her new book, endless Christmas tunes, and her everlasting generosity, Dolly Parton is reminding us all to embrace the holiday season with love, joy, and a whole lot of music.
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