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Dolly Parton’s unreleased “My Place in History” sealed until 2046

8/26/2026

50 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Dolly Parton Seals Song

Dolly Parton died at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, after a brief cancer battle.
She recorded the unreleased song “My Place in History” in 2015 for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.
The track is sealed in a wooden “Dream Box” at the resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The box will stay closed until January 19, 2046, her 100th birthday, per the plaque.

Summary

Dolly Rejects Elvis

Dolly Parton rejected Colonel Tom Parker’s request to let Elvis record her song, protecting her publishing rights.
Dolly Parton said Elvis loved the track.
Priscilla Parker confirmed Elvis sang it to her after their divorce.
Dolly Parton called the song her publishing company’s most valuable copyright and refused any half-ownership deal.

History

Historical Context

The 1976 Copyright Act, signed by Congress and effective 1978, replaced the 50-year term with life + 50 years for individual songwriters, bringing federal protection to sound recordings fixed after February 15 1972. This built on the 1971 Sound Recordings Act, which first gave federal copyright to post-1972 recordings. The framework later evolved with the 2018 Music Modernization Act, which set a 2067 expiry for pre-1972 recordings.

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Dolly Parton Seals Song

Dolly Parton died at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, after a brief cancer battle.
She recorded the unreleased song “My Place in History” in 2015 for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.
The track is sealed in a wooden “Dream Box” at the resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The box will stay closed until January 19, 2046, her 100th birthday, per the plaque.

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