Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

“Pure and Simple” is what Dolly Parton’s Music is All About

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Dolly Parton’s 2016 track “Pure and Simple” is magical in the sense that this was the first try of the singer for an album full of love songs. The country legend was inspired with the love that she and her husband share, so the album was created.

Dolly’s 50-year marriage with husband Carl Dean is really special and quite an accomplishment from people that are in show business. Her song “Pure and Simple” showcased a mature Dolly Parton who is grateful for the love of her husband.

dolly parton, marriage, pure and simple
via YouTube

Behind Dolly’s Pure and Simple Album

The singer has been making music since the ’70s and she is unstoppable. This album was the singer’s 45th studio album and was inspired by her marriage with Carl Dean. The couple had their renewal of vows back in 2016 and so, this album was born. In an interview, the singer said:

“I thought, well, this would be a good year to write an album of love songs. I’ve never done that before. I’ve usually had a story song or a gospel song, but this was all love stories.”

The album was received well by critics and this was Dolly’s best debut at the Billboard’s Album charts. The Pure and Simple album contains 1o tracks from Dolly and two bonus tracks for her UK version.

pure and simple, youtube
via YouTube

Dolly’s 50-Year Marriage

No one would have thought that these two met at a laundromat. It was almost like love at first sight for Carl and he always knew that Dolly Parton was the one for him. Two years of dating led them to know each other and they finally tied the knot back in 1966. When asked what their secret is, Dolly shared:

“I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say, ‘Stay gone!’ I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”

The couple never had children and this might have contributed to their relationship since they are both away from each other from time to time.

Listen to her song here:

Latest Stories

Kenny Chesney performs inside the Las Vegas Sphere surrounded by neon lights, tropical visuals, and underwater beach bar-themed projections celebrating his historic country concert.

Kenny Chesney Turned the Vegas Sphere Into a Beach Bar and Made Country History

Las Vegas has seen its share of wild nights, but it’s never seen anything quite like what went down when Kenny Chesney brought his barefoot hurricane to the Sphere. May ...

Priscilla Presley poses in a black ruffled blouse with dark red lipstick and auburn hair, attending a formal event years after her life with Elvis Presley, still carrying the legacy of their enduring love story.

Where Is Priscilla Presley Now and Why She Never Remarried After Elvis Presley

There are love stories, and then there’s Elvis and Priscilla. A whirlwind of fame, obsession, heartbreak, and a connection so deep it’s still pulsing five decades after it blew apart. ...

Jamey Johnson and his wife Brittney Eakins smile at each other in wedding attire by a scenic river, celebrating their unique love story that began with a proposal the day after they met.

Jamey Johnson Proposed to His Wife Brittney the Day After They Met and She Said Yes

Jamey Johnson doesn’t date. He decides. And apparently, he decided the moment he met Brittney Eakins because this outlaw son of Alabama met a woman, looked her dead in the ...

Beyoncé performs in a white rhinestone western outfit and cowboy hat during her Cowboy Carter era, drawing controversy after receiving country award nominations at the 2025 AMAs.

Beyoncé Got Two Country Nods at the 2025 AMAs While Real Country Artists Got Nothing

Let’s not sugarcoat this. Beyoncé just scored two country nominations at the 2025 American Music Awards, and half the artists actually living, breathing, and bleeding this genre didn’t get a ...

Breanna Nix hugs her young son backstage as she prepares for her Grand Ole Opry debut, radiating joy ahead of her biggest country music milestone yet.

Breanna Nix Will Make Her Grand Ole Opry Debut and She’s Bringing the Fire With Her

Third place? Nah. Breanna Nix didn’t come off American Idol with a consolation prize. She walked out with a calling. Just days after closing out Season 23 as the sleeper ...

John Foster performs onstage in a tan jacket and cowboy hat, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone under purple lighting.

John Foster Believes There Was a Bigger Reason He Came Second on American Idol

John Foster didn’t come in first on American Idol but let’s be real. The trophy ain’t what gets you to Nashville. It’s what you do after the cameras shut off ...

Dolly Parton stands on stage holding a microphone, wearing a white blazer and black gloves, speaking passionately with two pastel armchairs behind her under soft lighting.

Dolly Parton Reveals the Cost Behind the Career Everyone Thinks Is Perfect

Everyone wants the rhinestones. Nobody signs up for the grindstone. At 79 years old, Dolly Parton stood at the opening of her own Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit and ...

Tim McGraw and George Strait stand side by side onstage, smiling with arms raised and guitars in hand, sharing a moment of camaraderie and mutual respect during a live performance.

Tim McGraw Says He Passed on “Carrying Your Love With Me” Out of Respect for George Strait

Tim McGraw has never been short on hits. The guy basically owned the ’90s. But even legends have moments they look back on and think, “Damn, that one got away.” ...

Riley Green and Randy Houser perform with acoustic guitars onstage at Sand In My Boots Fest, honoring Toby Keith with fiery renditions of his classic songs.

Riley Green and Randy Houser Honor Toby Keith With His Classics at Sand In My Boots Fest

If you were down in Gulf Shores this weekend and didn’t feel the ground shake when Riley Green and Randy Houser tore into “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” check your pulse. ...

Tim McGraw speaks into a podcast microphone, reflecting on aging in country music and saying he's done singing about bikinis and tailgate parties at 58.

Tim McGraw Says He’s 58 Now and Done Singing About Bikinis and Tailgate Parties

Tim McGraw just reminded everyone in Nashville that growing older doesn’t mean growing irrelevant. It means growing up. On a recent episode of TL’s Road House with Tracy Lawrence, McGraw ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.