Why Dolly Parton Sleeps With Makeup On

Dolly Parton’s new book, Behind The Seams: My Life In Rhinestones, is packed with gems – one of which reveals one of her daily quirky nighttime rituals.

The book, released last week (17 October), finds the Jolene singer admitting that she doesn’t take off her makeup before she goes to bed, and it’s a habit that’s insisted since the 80s. But why? In case of emergency, of course – no one would see her looking dead-eyed, no matter the hour or circumstance.

“When I arrived in LA in the '80s, I started sleeping with my makeup on, partly because of the earthquakes,” Parton wrote in her new book, per an excerpt shared by 10 Play. “I thought, ‘I'm not heading out on the streets without makeup in case there are cameras out there! I'm going to be ready to go!’”

Her wearing makeup to bed habit continued even as she married her husband, Carl Thomas Dean. The pair have been married for 50 years. Parton said, “I don't want to go to bed looking like a hag with Carl.”

Parton would take off the makeup in the morning and start fresh the following day. As long as she cleaned her face at least once a day, the habit persisted. She added, “After I wake up, I do all the little rituals, and then I start over again and go out every day and look good all day long.”

Behind The Seams is out now – you can purchase your copy here.

On Friday (20 October), Parton shared the latest single from her Rockstar album, a new rendition of Wrecking Ball alongside Miley Cyrus. You can check it out below.

The single follows her version of What’s Up? with 4 Non-Blondes’ Linda Perry, The Beatles’ Let It Be with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Queen’s We Are The Champions, World On Fire, Bygones starring Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford and Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist John 5, and a cover of Heart’s Magic Man, featuring guest vocalist Ann Wilson of Heart fame.

Rockstar arrives after Parton’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, an honour she didn’t feel she deserved at the time but is now rectifying with a stacked rock and roll album.

Rockstar will be released on Friday, 17 November, via the singer’s independent Butterfly Records.

Check out the full tracklist here and pre-order the album here.