“I like to stay close to home with my husband”

Dolly Parton shocked the world by announcing her retirement from touring.

“It takes a lot of time and energy” to perform at shows, said the country music legend, 76, and added that she wanted to spend more time with husband Carl Thomas Dean as they got older.

Dolly has enjoyed an incredible career, having composed over 3,000 songs including Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You – which became a worldwide pop hit by the late Whitney Houston.

The singer has spent her “whole life” traveling the world to go on tour, but now she’s hanging up her guitar and country shoes.

“I don’t think I’ll ever tour again, but I know I’ll be doing specials here and there, every now and then.

“Maybe I do long weekend shows or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full tour anymore.

“I’ve done it all my life, and it takes a lot of time and energy. I like to stay close to home with my husband. We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to go four or five weeks at a time,” Dolly said in an interview with Polestar.

Dolly said she was worried “something could happen” to her loved ones if she was away on tour and wouldn’t be able to help.

People flocked to Twitter to share the devastation they had upon Dolly’s retirement, with one writing, “Dolly Parton will never tour again – *screaming in agony*”, and another fan added: “Sad day. Dolly Parton is retiring from tour.”