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Dolly Parton Says She Almost Committed Suicide; God Intervened

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Country singer Dolly Parton says she believes God used her dog Popeye to keep her from killing herself. 

In a new tell-all book, "Dolly on Dolly, Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton," Parton looks back on a life that involved binge-eating, cheating on her husband, and almost committing suicide. 

The 71-year-old says that she and her husband of 51 years, Carl Dean, are doing well now, but that hasn't always been the case.  

The Daily Mail reports that marriage problems back in the 80's led Parton to go astray and fall in love with someone else. 

The Grammy Award winning musician writes that the affair ended badly and left her with a broken heart, according to ChristianToday.com.

One night, sitting in her bedroom, she took out the gun she kept to protect herself. 

"I looked at it a long time... Then, just as I picked it up, just to hold it and look at it for a moment, out little dog, Popeye, came running up the stairs," Parton said.

"The tap-tap of his paws jolted me back to reality, I suddenly froze. I put the gun down," she added.

Then, Parton started to pray. She promised God she wouldn't turn to suicidal thoughts again.

"I kinda believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God," the singer said. "I don't think I'd have done it, killed myself, but I can't say for sure. Now that I've gone through that terrible moment, I can certainly understand the possibilities even for someone solid like me if the pain gets bad enough."

The "Queen of Country Music" speaks often about her faith and how much it has impacted every aspect of her life. 

"A belief in God is essential," she said.

"You have to believe in something bigger than yourself. We grew up believing that through God all things are possible. I think I believed that so much that I made it happen."

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About The Author

Caitlin Burke Headshot
Caitlin
Burke

Caitlin Burke serves as National Security Correspondent and a general assignment reporter for CBN News. She has also hosted the CBN News original podcast, The Daily Rundown. Some of Caitlin’s recent stories have focused on the national security threat posed by China, America’s military strength, and vulnerabilities in the U.S. power grid. She joined CBN News in July 2010, and over the course of her career, she has had the opportunity to cover stories both domestically and abroad. Caitlin began her news career working as a production assistant in Richmond, Virginia, for the NBC affiliate WWBT