I was about to leave Benedum Hall to head to my next class last Tuesday when I received a text from my roommate. It simply read, “DOLLY PARTON DIED.” My feet did not move, my mouth now agape with shock from the news. Almost immediately, I replied to him, “WAIT, WHAT?” opened Safari, and typed “Dolly Parton.” Sure enough, under a picture of her, guitar in hand, with a beaming smile and her iconic hairstyle, was the headline made directly by her nephew Bryan on behalf of her family. I remembered the movie I watched with my mother years back and how much that movie and Dolly meant to her. I finally got the notification from Apple News—it is never as fast as my roommate.
After 80 years of her joyful noise being heard around the world, Dolly Parton’s passing stopped the world in its tracks. An outpouring of grief and compassion has spurred millions of people from every community, every generation, and every walk of life to mourn the Queen of Country Music. From her signature style to her inspiring voice to the vibrance of her generosity and love for all, Dolly Parton will forever be unparalleled in our minds and hearts.
As the fourth of twelve siblings, Dolly was born in a one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, and developed a passion for music through her mother’s stories and songs. She displayed her musical gift early in life, writing her first song at age five and singing on the radio at age ten before debuting her first single at age thirteen. She signed her first record deal with Monument Records in Nashville only four years later, with her record company attempting to feature her as a pop artist. However, after the success of Bill Phillips’ “Put It Off till Tomorrow,” co-written by Dolly and her uncle Bill Owens, Monument changed the course of her career to country music. Throughout the following sixty years, Parton recorded 49 studio albums, as well as over 200 live, collaboration, compilation, and soundtrack albums, and wrote over 3,000 songs, including “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston and “Waltz Me to Heaven” by Waylon Jennings. She performed at over 1,000 concerts during her lifetime, dazzling her fans with songs like “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors.
Her talents were not limited to the art of music: Dolly appeared in and produced films and television shows, wrote multiple memoirs, musicals, and children’s books, and opened businesses and experiences for others around the world. Many will remember her for her performances in the box-office hits 9 to 5 or The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, two of the twelve films she starred in. Making over 400 television appearances on all types of shows like Saturday Night Live and Hannah Montana, Dolly also had a season of her own variety show on ABC. The eleven-time Grammy-winning artist was also a playwright, writing the score for 9 to 5: The Musical and co-writing the book for Dolly: A True Original Musical. Sandy Gallin and Dolly co-owned Sandollar Productions, which produced films and television shows like Father of the Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Parton worked with the Herschend family to retheme the existing Rebel Railroad park into Dollywood, a theme park based on Appalachia and the American South. Branson, Missouri, home to many faith-based and country attractions, also features the second location of Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a dinner show showcasing horseback riding, costuming, and song. It is currently the most visited dinner show in the world. In addition, Dolly’s Life in Many Colors Museum and Song Teller Hotel will welcome guests later this year.
Dolly never forgot her humble beginnings and spent much of her life improving her community. Starting as a regional program in her home county of Sevier, Tennessee, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library delivers books to millions of children directly to their homes, taking the burden of transportation and the money of books off families while bringing more literary works to those who need them most. The Dollywood Foundation, the nonprofit organization Dolly started and whose flagship project is the Imagination Library, is dedicated to the educational opportunities of children and was formed in 1988. Beyond this, Parton supported victims of natural disasters and the health and well-being of children.
Dolly Parton was a vision of incredible determination, talent, and love for all who crossed her path. Not only was her existence a reminder to forge your own path to success, but also to have faith in and compassion for others along the way. Joining her late husband of sixty years, she parts from us after having stood for the empowerment of women and LGBTQ+ people, amazed us on stage and screen, flourished with several ventures of business and philanthropy, and done it all in a wig and a push-up bra. Thank you, Dolly. We will always love you.
“It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.”—Dolly Parton