Country music icon Dolly Parton left a secret song locked inside a time capsule at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee that will remain sealed until January 19, 2046, the centenary of her birth.
The unreleased track, titled My Place in History, was stored on both cassette and CD inside the resort's Dream Box capsule prior to Parton's death on Tuesday at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security, through a video posted on the singer's official Instagram account. Seaver explained that he made the statement on social media in accordance with a personal request made by Parton before she died.
Parton, one of the most celebrated figures in American music history, was internationally famous for her songwriting, distinctive voice, and philanthropic work. She opened the Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa in Tennessee as part of her broader entertainment empire, which draws millions of visitors annually.
Details of the secret recording
The song My Place in History was recorded in 2015, the same year that the resort was inaugurated. The recording was placed into the Dream Box capsule, where it will remain locked until her centenary date in 2046.
The Dream Box itself is a custom time capsule crafted from chestnut wood as a tribute to Parton's uncle, Bill Owens, who dedicated part of his life to the preservation of the American chestnut tree.
Parton publicly revealed the existence of the secret track in 2022 during an appearance on the American television broadcast The Kelly Clarkson Show. During the interview, she joked that she would likely not be around to witness the song's eventual release in 2046.
Despite the long wait, Parton insisted that the track was of high quality and deserved to be retrieved and heard by future generations.
Hospitalisation and final statements
Four days before her death, Parton was admitted to a hospital in Nashville for kidney and autoimmune issues, according to reporting by celebrity news website TMZ.
On the day of her hospital admission, Parton acknowledged her health struggles in an interview with People magazine. However, she assured the publication that she still had many projects and tasks left to accomplish.
