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Dolly Parton says not having kids allowed her to prioritize her career

4:26
Dolly Parton reflects on her incredible career
Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images, FILE
ByDanielle Long
November 16, 2020, 4:11 PM

Dolly Parton is taking a trip down memory lane.

During a recent episode of "The Oprah Conversation," the legendary country singer opened up about her successful career and said that her decision to not have children with her husband, Carl Dean, played a huge role.

Parton, who turns 75 in January, told Oprah, "Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom. So I think a big part of my whole success is the fact that I was free to work."

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MORE: Country superstar Dolly Parton says her husband isn't the biggest fan of her music

The "Jolene" singer's decision to not have children doesn't reflect how she feels about them, though.

VIDEO: The evolution of Dolly Parton's style.
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"I would never stoop so low as to be fashionable, that's the easiest thing in the world to do."

In fact, she shared it's allowed her the opportunity to launch programs like her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children until they start school.

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"I didn't have children because I believed that God didn't mean for me to have kids so everybody's kids could be mine, so I could do things like Imagination Library because if I hadn't had the freedom to work, I wouldn't have done all the things I've done," she explained. "I wouldn't be in a position to do all of the things I'm doing now."

When it comes to whether or not there have been more sacrifices than rewards, Parton said she feels like she's exactly where she's supposed to be.

"I've made sacrifices, but I think, like I said, I believe what I know I'm supposed to do," she said.

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