9 Inspiring Dolly Parton Quotes about God and Faith – Said as Only Dolly Could

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Dolly Parton died Aug. 25 at the age of 80 following a life that saw her transform the music industry, become one of America’s most unifying entertainers and leave a mark through her philanthropy and radiant joy.

Her faith, she said, was the foundation beneath it all – a deeply held belief in God and prayer that she carried from her childhood in the mountains of Tennessee to the heights of international stardom.

Here are nine inspiring Dolly Parton quotes about God and faith – often expressed in a way only she could.

Dolly Parton on Prayer:

“I pray every day. I pray about everything,” she said in 2017. “I ask God to lead me and guide me in all the decisions I make – and to bring all the good and right people into my life and to let me do something to glorify God and uplift mankind.”

Dolly Parton on the Existence of God:

“The old cynics will say, ‘Oh, there's no such thing as God.’ Well, that’s your problem,” she said in 2019. “I know there is. … It would scare me to death to think that there was nothing bigger and better than me, that there wasn't something out there that we could depend on.”

Dolly Parton on Her Mission in Life:

“So I kinda held that also in the back of my mind, whether that was predestined or not, or whether I just took that little grain of faith and made that so for myself,” she said in 2019.

“I never let go of that. I always felt responsible to God that I was supposed to be doing something for God. I still feel like that, and I'm still doing it, trying to. Sinning all the way, but trying my best, and asking forgiveness seventy times seven.”

Dolly Parton on Practicing Her Faith:

“I don't practice [faith] – I live it,” she said in 2019. “I think people try too hard. I talk to God like He is my best friend. I just go around talking to Him sometimes. … You live by example. You teach by example. You learn by example, don't you think? … I think if somebody saw me in my house, they would think I was an absolute lunatic. I just talk to God, and sometimes if something great has happened, I just kind of raise my hand and give God a high-five or a thumbs up.”

Dolly Parton on People Calling Her Saint Dolly:

“Well, first of all, I'm no saint. Trust me, I'm no saint,” she said in 2019. “But for me, as far as what I hope my music will be left behind, I hope that it will always live. I think all that other stuff may fall away. But I would like to think that I've left some good pieces of music. And I think as long as time is, people will be doing music – all kinds of different ways.”

Dolly Parton on the Existence of Evil:

“He gave us free will – we the ones that screw up all the time,” she said in 2019.

Dolly Parton on Her Christian Roots:

“I grew up knowing that Jesus loves me,” she said in 2016. “And I knew that through God all things were possible. I grew up with those things that we just heard all the time. My grandfather was a really good preacher. He used to scare me a little bit. I wrote a song years ago called "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man." It was about him, about my grandpa. One of the lines is ‘he preached hell so hot, you could feel the heat.’”

Dolly Parton on Being Public about Her Faith:

“People say, 'Well, I am surprised that you talk about your faith,' and I say, 'Why not? That's who I am. That's what keeps me going,’” she said in 2016.

Dolly Parton on Heaven:

“I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday,” she said in 2025 after her husband, Carl, died.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Theo Wargo/Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.