In a surprising revelation, iconic singer Dolly Parton has opened up about her own experience with an emotional affair that left her overwhelmed with guilt.
Known for her hit song “Jolene,” which delves into the fear of losing one’s partner to another person, Parton confessed that it was she who once found herself entangled in such a situation.
Parton, now 76 years old, shared this candid confession in her book, “Dolly on Dolly, Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton.”
In the book, she expressed, “Men are my weakness.
Short, fat, bald or skinny – I’ve had crushes on some very unusual men but Carl knows I’ll always come home and I’m not having s** with these people – I’m just flirting and having fun.
He’s not jealous and I’m not jealous of him.
He knows I flirt.
He flirts too.
Yes, it’s an open relationship, but not s**ually and I would kill him if I thought he was doing that.
He would shoot me too.”
While Parton and her husband Carl have a deep love for each other, she admitted that there was a time when she took an emotional affair too far.
The guilt she felt consumed her to such an extent that she even considered suicide.
Reflecting on this dark period in her life, Parton recalled a terrifying moment when she found herself contemplating ending it all.
Sitting alone in her bedroom one afternoon, she noticed her gun in the nightstand drawer, a weapon she kept for protection against potential burglars.
As she reached for it, intending to hold and examine it, her beloved dog Popeye came bounding up the stairs, his paws tapping against the floor.
This unexpected interruption snapped her back to reality, causing her to freeze in her tracks.
Parton attributed this timely interruption to a higher power, believing that Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God.
Moved by the experience, Parton shared, “I don’t think I’d have done it, killed myself, but I can’t say for sure.
Now that I’ve gone through that terrible moment, I can certainly understand the possibilities even for someone solid like me if the pain gets bad enough.”
Despite the turmoil caused by her emotional affair, Parton and her husband remain deeply committed to each other.
Their love has withstood the test of time, as they have been married since 1966.
In fact, in a recent celebration of Carl’s birthday, Parton surprised him by recreating her iconic Playboy cover.
This gesture demonstrates their enduring bond and willingness to celebrate their love in unique and unexpected ways.
Parton’s candidness about her personal struggles serves as a reminder that
