The Spirituality of Dolly Parton

The Spirituality of Dolly Parton: A Christmas Reflection

Last updated on: December 8, 2025 at 1:52 pm by Tom Rapsas

The temperatures outside are plummeting and the holiday decorations are going up. In cities, towns and homes around the world, people are preparing for the Christmas season.

It’s a time often marked by reflection, generosity, and good cheer. And outside of Santa Claus himself, no one brings more good cheer to the party than Dolly Parton.

At 79 years of age, Parton remains a vibrant and influential figure, a living legend and a true American icon.

As you may recall, a few months ago Dolly cancelled several concerts. Soon after, her sister Frieda asked fans to pray for her due to an ongoing health issue. Many of us breathed a sigh of relief, when Dolly issued a simple statement: “I ain’t dead yet!”

If you’ve ever seen her interviewed, you can sense a deeply spiritual side to Dolly that seems perfectly aligned with the spirit of giving and hope we celebrate this time of year. She reminds us that the true holiday spirit goes beyond religion, and is really about the unconditional love we can offer one another.

As she said on her website:

“My wish is that people try to put aside all their differences … and just try to find that peace that comes from Christmas, and that peace within themselves and just try to love one another.”

Dolly Parton may not be religious—but she is spiritual.

In her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, the singer wrote: “I’m not that religious, but I’m very, very spiritual.

I grew up in very religious surroundings. I grew up with a Bible background, and I’m glad I did. I know my Bible stories.” She learned early on to rely on prayer to get her through life’s crises. “A belief in God is essential,” she concluded.

In the book, she also revealed that one way she connects with God is through nature. She explains, “A lot of people think that because I look so artificial, I never spend time outside … I love to be out in nature … I sit under trees to write songs. I listen to God’s voice through the wind.”

When asked about her spirituality in the magazine Southern Living, Dolly said she lives it each day. It’s an integral part of who she is. She explains, “A lot of people overthink spirituality, you know? And they, therefore they think it has to be some big ritual.” But for Dolly it’s really quite simple. It’s all about “living with the awareness God is always present.”

A few of my favorite quotes from two interviews she did for Southern Living follow.

The first is a nod to Luke 17:21, while others showcase her belief that the person most responsible for our happiness is the one we see in the mirror each day.

The kingdom of heaven is inside. It’s right inside of you. And you can draw from that wisdom, whether you call it God or higher wisdom or a higher knowing, there’s something bigger than you.

I don’t think you have to be a saint. I don’t think you have to be so strict that you can’t have fun. You know, it’s all about the intent of your heart.

We make our own choices as to whether we’re going to be happy or whether we’re going to be miserable. It’s a choice. Everything’s a choice.

You can change things for the good, you can change things for the bad, but you can’t be so damn stubborn that you’re not willing to even try.

I often say that I was born with a happy heart, but boy, my heart gets heavy so much these days. And then I just keep trying to think of ways that I can make a personal difference.

Dolly Parton quietly does make a difference.

Over the years, she has donated her time and money to numerous charitable causes and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

In 2022, billionaire Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to her Dollywood Foundation, and she uses the funds to donate to her favorite charities and to continue her own charitable work.

In researching Dolly’s spiritual nature, I stumbled upon a subreddit called r/Christianity that discusses various aspects of Christian life. It might be no surprise that Dolly has fans there as well, with one person posting “I feel she’s been an excellent example of what a Christian can be.” Another contributor states:

I would argue that Dolly Parton lives out her Christian ideals and is the closest thing that we have to the Dalai Lama in the U.S.

A comparison to the Dalai Lama is quite the compliment, but for Dolly, it’s well deserved. As the holiday season beckons us to be our best, kindest, and most generous selves, we would all do well to follow the lead of Dolly Parton. Her enduring spirituality is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Merry Christmas Dolly and may you have many more!