Country Legend, 79, Told Journalist Charles Manson Would Steal His Soul
Famed journalist Lawrence Grobel revealed that it was Dolly Parton who convinced him to turn down an interview with Charles Manson.The anecdote was first shared on Grobel’s personal blog in 2017, but it’s drawing renewed attention following Vanity Fair’s July/August 2025 feature on his private diaries. The magazine published a selection of his entries about iconic figures like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Parton, prompting fans to revisit some of his most surprising moments, including the one that kept him from sitting down with Manson.At the time, an editor at Playboy had offered him the interview, and Grobel admitted he was caught off guard.“Usually it was, ‘We’ve got Marlon Brando, when do you think you can be ready?’ Or, ‘Al Pacino has agreed to do his first major interview, you have to be in New York in two days,’” Grobel wrote.RELATED: Metal Icon, 73, Helped Give Dolly Parton Rock Cred With a Surprise DuetHe added that his editor advised him to “give [the interview with Manson] some thought,” even though his immediate reaction was to accept the interview. Grobel said that while his wife wasn’t keen on the idea of him interviewing the notorious killer, she had never “stood in the way of his work.” However, a surprise phone call from Parton changed his mind.When Grobel told Parton that he was having trouble deciding whether to take the interview or not, the “Jolene” singer’s “tone changed immediately.”“‘Is that something you really have to think about?’ she said. ‘Well, let me tell you what I think. And I in no way mean to interfere with your decision. But…’ and here she stopped to ask me whether or not I had already had any contact with that monster,” the celebrity journalist wrote. “I said I hadn’t. ‘Well, here’s what I think. You’re a sensitive man, and he’s evil incarnate. If you have anything to do with him — if you see him, if you talk to him — then I will never see or speak to you again, because that man is the devil, and his evil will affect you in some way, and I don’t want to have anything to do with anyone who has had any contact with him. Now, as I say, this is your life and your decision and I don’t mean to influence you in any way, I’m just telling you how I feel. And to tell you the truth, that you even have to think about this concerns me.’”Despite leaning toward taking the assignment, Grobel ultimately turned it down. He later admitted that the thought of losing Parton's friendship helped him make up his mind.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings