Why Being Home for Christmas Is a Never-Missed Tradition
When promoting her first-ever holiday-themed children's book, "Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas," the "Jolene" singer spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about the significance of being home for Christmas. She emphasizes that it is so important to her that she wouldn't even accept a high-paying gig if it meant missing the festive holiday. This sentiment inspired the heartwarming story in the book.She explains, "In this book, performers often face the dilemma of choosing between going on the road and taking shows for money during the holiday season. Many artists get lucrative offers, but for her, loving her family and having that family tradition means always wanting to be home for Christmas. That's the essence of this little book."
Dolly Parton's new book features Billy the Kid, a character based on her beloved real-life French bulldog who also appeared in her New York Times bestseller "Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big." Billy must decide between performing a paid gig and making it home for Christmas. Just like his owner, he chooses the holiday tradition.
"Billy gets a big offer to work at the Barcafella Center and has already promised to be home for Christmas. Eventually, he makes it there, and there's a lot of fun and story in between," she says. "I love being home for Christmas, and despite my busy career, I have never missed being home during the holidays."
The Importance of Family and Holiday Traditions
Considering Parton's busy career, it's quite a feat to always be home for Christmas. She tells PEOPLE that it's not just about tradition and gathering with family but also about the décor, good food, and all the festivities."[I love] the tradition of being home for Christmas, being with family, and having all the good food and different dishes that family members make. The music, the lights, and all the sounds add to the holiday spirit. It's a special time," the singer-songwriter says.
Now, Parton's fans can get a taste of her family holiday feasts with her new cookbook, "Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals," released on Sept. 24 with her sister Rachel Parton George. The cookbook features Parton family recipes and classic American dishes, including some of her favorite holiday meals that will likely be on her dinner table on Christmas Day.
"I always love everything we do at Christmas. Many of the things we have at Thanksgiving, like the sage dressing, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato bars. I'm big on making a big pot of chicken and dumplings, and everyone looks forward to it," Parton tells PEOPLE.
Dolly Parton's "Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas" — written by Parton and Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley — is available now wherever books are sold.