Quote of the day by American actress-singer Dolly Parton: 'If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one’

“If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." That line comes from none other than Dolly Parton, a woman who has built one of the most remarkable careers in entertainment history. Born Dolly Rebecca Parton, she is far more than a country singer. She is a songwriter, actress, philanthropist and sharp businesswoman who has stayed relevant for over six decades.

Her journey began as a songwriter for other artists before she stepped into the spotlight with her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, in 1967. What followed was a 60-year career that includes more than 50 studio albums. Often called the Queen of Country, Parton is one of the most celebrated female country performers of all time. Her shelf of honours includes eleven Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards, along with nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and even a Tony Award.

When she says, “If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one,” it carries the weight of lived experience. She grew up in rural Tennessee with very little, yet chose to create her own path instead of waiting for the world to hand her one. The quote is a reminder that we are not stuck. If a job feels wrong, a relationship feels draining, or a dream feels delayed, we do not have to quietly accept it. We can change direction.


It is not about reckless decisions. It is about courage. Life rarely hands out perfect timing. Sometimes you have to build your own road, brick by brick. And if anyone understands what it takes to do that, it is Dolly Parton.

About Dolly Parton

Over the years, Dolly Parton has written more than 3,000 songs, a staggering number by any standard. Among them are classics like the song I Will Always Love You, which topped the U.S. country charts twice before becoming a global phenomenon through Whitney Houston, as well as Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and 9 to 5. Each track carries her signature storytelling style, blending vulnerability with strength in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.

Her talent has never been limited to music. On screen, she held her own in films such as 9 to 5, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk and Joyful Noise, proving that her charm translated effortlessly from stage to cinema.

Recognition has followed her at every step. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986. Over the decades, she has been awarded the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, she was named to the Time 100 list of the world’s most influential people, and in 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her No. 27 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Most recently, it was announced that she will receive the 2026 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar that celebrates her extraordinary philanthropic work.