Dolly Parton has turned down American Idol and The X Factor. The legendary singer was approached to join both shows as a judge over the years but admitted the only TV talent search she would ever consider appearing on is The Voice because it is more nurturing to its contestants.

"I've been asked to do American Idol and The X Factor almost every time there's a new season. [On The Voice] you don't have to judge that much and I hesitate to judge people," she said.

Dolly previously revealed she will always be grateful to Whitney Houston for making her song "I Will Always Love You" famous and credits her friends and God with preventing her from going down the same road as the tragic singer, who drowned following an accidental overdose in a hotel bathtub in February: "I thank God every day for that song - and Whitney made it popular worldwide. It's a very simple song, really, as simple as anything I've ever written. I've always had good and close friends, and a spiritual faith. God will take the wrong people and things out, and teach me to have the right people and the right things. Some people don't have that, and that's where it can go wrong."