Dolly Parton recorded a never-before-heard song and sealed it inside a “Dream Box” at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with the instruction that it should remain locked until 2045. The year will mark the resort’s 30th anniversary and would have found Parton just shy of her 100th birthday. Parton created the box while preparing for the resort’s 2015 opening. Alongside the recording are items connected to her life and family, including a copy of her book Dream More, a piece of wood from the front porch of her childhood Tennessee home, and a sealed chestnut box honoring her uncle and early musical mentor Bill Owens. According to Dollywood, the mystery song was written specifically for the future and shares Parton’s “hopes and dreams” for what lies ahead.
Background of the Dream Box
Years before Dolly Parton‘s death on Tuesday at age 80, she had already prepared for the possibility that she might not be around in 2045. The Dream Box was created as a time capsule, containing not only the unreleased song but also other items that held significant meaning to Parton‘s life and career. The box includes a copy of her book Dream More, which reflects her philosophy on life and her aspirations for the future. Additionally, the box contains a piece of wood from the front porch of her childhood home in Tennessee, serving as a reminder of her humble beginnings. A sealed chestnut box honoring her uncle and early musical mentor Bill Owens is also included, highlighting the importance of her family and mentors in shaping her career.
Parton’s Second Thoughts
The only problem was that Parton wanted the song back almost immediately. Speaking about the idea years later, she repeatedly joked that knowing a perfectly good song was sitting unheard inside a box drove her crazy. “You have no idea how that has bothered me,” she told Kelly Clarkson in 2022, adding that she wanted to dig it up because “it’s a really good song.” She had similar second thoughts while talking to Jimmy Fallon, joking that she wanted permission to replace the recording with something worse. Parton had even prepared for one particularly 2045 problem: she reportedly included instructions explaining how to play the CD in case the format had become hopelessly obsolete by the time the box was opened.
Legacy and Tributes
Parton‘s death gives the time-capsule experiment an unintended finality. What was once a joke about whether she’d still be around in 2045 is now a promise that, 19 years from now, there will still be one more Dolly Parton song left to hear. As for whoever gets to open the box, Parton‘s request was characteristically sweet: she just hoped they’d enjoy it. In the meantime, tributes to Parton have continued pouring in, with Reba McEntire, Carole King, Miley Cyrus and countless others remembering the country icon following her death at 80.
In conclusion, the Dream Box remains a testament to Dolly Parton‘s creativity and generosity. The unreleased song and other items inside the box will continue to be a mystery until 2045, when the box is scheduled to be opened. Until then, fans of Parton can continue to celebrate her legacy and look forward to the possibility of hearing one more song from the country legend. The Dream Box serves as a reminder of Parton‘s enduring impact on music and her ability to inspire future generations.
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