Dolly Parton on first U.S. tour in 25 years, says songwriters don't get 'just dues'

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Dolly Parton hitting the road for the first time in 25 years

Why Dolly Parton is going on her first North American tour in a quarter century

Dolly Parton has staying power.

The songstress's career spans six decades, and has made Parton an American icon.

That's why when the singer announced she'd be embarking on her first North American tour in 25 years, fans rejoiced. The Tennessee native is bringing her "Pure & Simple" tour to 60 cities in 2016.

"I've been very blessed through the years and I've been doing tours in Australia and in Europe for the last few years," Parton told FOX411 Country. "But I hadn't had any big hit records in the United States in a long time. I've got a lot of history, a lot of records that have been big hits in the past but I just didn't think anybody would be interested in seeing me in concert with all the new country people and all, but evidentially they are interested."

Parton's modesty aside, American listeners are still big fans of the 70-year-old. Her last album, "Blue Smoke," released in 2014 was Parton's highest-charting solo album ever. At 37,000 copies sold in its first week, it was her best sales week for a solo endeavor.

Despite her continuing success, Parton is unsure why she is still on top.

"Well, I think there's a lot of great artists and there are people that really have that staying power...that really do draw crowds if they go out," she said of her fellow country artists like Reba and Hank Williams Jr. "But I feel like I'm older than all of them and I think but I've been at it longer than all of them as well, but I just think that it's wonderful that we can all be loved and accepted...but the fact that a lot of the new people are recognize my music really makes me feel good. Makes me feel old but makes me feel good."

Following in the longstanding tradition of storytelling that country music is known for, Parton has proudly most of her own hits and a few for others (Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" is a Dolly original.)

However, a lot of today's artists are no longer writing their own songs and Nashville's songwriters are not seeing their "just dues," Parton said.

"I do think a song is the most important thing," the "Jolene" singer said. "A songwriter is the most important person in the business because without the song, nobody has a career because you don't have hits unless you have a hit song. So I really think songwriters are not getting their just dues anymore and even their just monies anymore.

"I've been blessed that I've been able to write and I have written the biggest part of my hits through the years...but a lot of artists, a lot of singers don't write at all...I think a songwriter is very important and that to me, is my favorite thing that I do."

That's not to say that the skill of songwriting is lost in country music today.

"Well there are a lot of great artists out there that really do write...like Keith Urban, he writes a lot of wonderful things of his own. Brad Paisley, great, great writer," Parton praised. "I'm very proud of the singers that also can write. And Taylor, Taylor Swift, she's a great one for sure."

Looking back on her long career, Parton reflected on what advice she would give herself when she first started out.

"Oh I don't know I'd give myself any advice. I would just say, 'You better brace yourself because we're in for the ride of our lives, and it's been a good one."

Follow FOX411 Country's Sasha Bogursky on Twitter @SashaFB.