Why Dolly Parton Won’t Join American Idol or The Voice

Don’t expect Dolly Parton‘s 9 to 5 to include offering musical criticisms on American Idol or The Voice. 

The country music legend is ruling out the idea of joining the judges’ panel—or sitting in the iconic red swivel chair—on talent competition series. And her reasoning is quite simple.

“I’ve been asked to do that a lot of times,” the 79-year-old told E! News’ Will Marfuggi in an exclusive interview. “It’s too hard for me. That’s why I don’t accept it, because I know how sincere everybody is. Even if they’re not that good, they believe they are. And I just can’t hurt people.” (For more from Dolly, tune in to E! News at 11 p.m.).

But while Dolly isn’t interested in taking a seat at the judges table, she has appeared on Idol, serving as a guest mentor in 2008 during its seventh season, during which the top nine contestants—including winner David Cook—performed her songs. The Grammy winner also worked as a guest mentor on The Voice twice, once in season nine in 2015 and again in season 11 in 2016.