'I Wanna Go Dig That Up So Bad': Dolly Parton Left a Secret Final Song Locked Away Until 2046

Dolly Parton left behind one final musical secret before her death, but fans will have to wait another 20 years to hear it. The country music legend recorded an unreleased song, 'My Place in History', and sealed it inside a chestnut box with instructions that it remain locked until 19 January 2046, what would have been her 100th birthday.

The recording is preserved at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where it sits behind glass as part of a time-capsule project.

'I Wanna Go Dig That Up So Bad'

Parton, who died on Tuesday aged 80 following a brief battle with cancer, had previously admitted that keeping the song hidden was difficult.

During a 2022 appearance on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', she revealed how much the unusual arrangement had bothered her. 'You have no idea how that has bothered me. I wanna go dig that up so bad,' Parton said, before adding: 'It's a really good song!'

The singer explained that she had placed technology from the era inside the box along with the recording, including a CD player. She also worried that the recording might deteriorate before anyone had the chance to hear it.

Parton had previously considered the possibility that she could live long enough to witness the unveiling herself. In her 2020 book, 'Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics', she wrote that if she were still alive, she intended to be at the opening.

Why the Song Is Locked Away Until 2046

Parton wrote and recorded 'My Place in History' in 2015, the same year Dollywood's DreamMore Resort opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The recording remains inside a chestnut 'Dream Box' displayed behind glass at the resort. The box was designed as a repository for Parton's memories and hopes for the future, with the song intended to be released as her last.

The chestnut box also pays tribute to Parton's uncle and early musical mentor, Bill Owens, who worked to preserve the American chestnut tree.

Parton even planned for the possibility that CDs might be obsolete by 2046 by placing a player alongside the recording. She nevertheless joked in her book that she hoped the equipment and recording would still work when the box was eventually opened.

The unusual arrangement means that even after Dolly Parton's death, the contents and melody of one of her songs remain unknown to the public.

Dolly Parton's Death Sparks Worldwide Tributes

Parton died in Nashville on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer, bringing an end to a career that made her one of country music's most recognisable figures.

Her death prompted tributes from musicians and public figures around the world, reflecting an influence that extended far beyond country music.

The singer sold more than 100 million records during her career and became known for classics including 'Jolene', '9 to 5' and 'I Will Always Love You', as well as her extensive philanthropic work.

One More Dolly Parton Song Still Awaits Release

While 'My Place in History' will remain unheard until 2046, it may not be the only previously unreleased Dolly Parton music to emerge after her death.

Parton said in a 2019 interview that she had thousands of songs written and had deliberately prepared recordings that future producers could build new arrangements around. She said the archive contained enough material for compilations as well as previously unheard music.

For 'My Place in History', however, Parton's original instructions remain clear. The Dream Box is scheduled to stay closed until her 100th birthday on 19 January 2046, when the secret song can finally be heard.