Following the death of her husband Carl Dean on March 3, Dolly Parton has officially announced that she is taking a break from music because she is not yet prepared to accept the intense feelings that writing evokes.

In an interview with Khloé Kardashian’s Khloé in Wonder Land podcast, the country music icon discussed her choice and how her loss has impacted her creative process.

“My husband passed away three months ago… Several things I’ve wanted to start, but I can’t do it. I will later, but I’m just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas. But I think I won’t finish it,” said the singer.

Parton continued, “I can’t do it right now because I’ve got so many other things that I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now. So there are times like that, things like that that will start here a little bit, but I’ll write something else, though, if it comes. So I’m just putting that all on hold.”

Additionally, Parton spoke passionately about her lifelong love for songwriting, calling it her “joy” despite being her career. “It happens just to be my job, but it is also my joy,” she said.

At age 82, Dean passed away in March. The couple, who met outside a Nashville laundry the day Parton moved to the city to follow her aspirations, had one of the most enduring love stories in music. After two years of marriage, they remained together for over sixty years.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton wrote on social media following his death. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

Despite the break, Parton has continued to be active with her Dolly: An Original Musical and other charitable endeavours. Nevertheless, she stated unequivocally that her pen will return to paper when the moment is appropriate.

“Everything begins with a story or a song… I think that’s one of the reasons I love to write, because I feel like I’m so connected to God right then,” she said.