The Passing of a Legend: How to Honor and Embody Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton’s Beginning

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on Jan. 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, to Robert Lee Parton and Avie Lee Owens Parton—parents who had no idea they were raising someone who would change the world. 

Parton was raised in Sevier County, Tennessee, and grew up humble as one of 12 children. She knew of her talent for music from a young age, beginning to write songs at just the age of five. 

In 1965, at the age of 19, she signed her first record deal. In 1967, she was invited to join The Porter Wagoner Show. Between 1967 and 1974, they produced albums with numerous Top 10 singles, becoming a leading country music duo. It was this experience that later helped Parton make her way to the national level. 

In the 1970s, Parton was becoming more and more distinguished, and she released many songs still well-loved today, such as “Jolene,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” and “I Will Always Love You.” 

The rest, as we all know, is about a woman not only becoming a global superstar but also a cherished role model to everyone.

Sadly, Dolly Parton passed on Aug. 25th, 2026. Despite being gone, her beautiful soul and kind actions have not been forgotten. 

Dolly Parton’s Kindness

During her lifetime, the artist was never shy about using her voice and resources to help as many people as she could. She has made philanthropic efforts in education, medicine, disaster relief, and more. Specific examples include:

• In the 1980s, Parton and her Dollywood Foundation worked with local and state leaders to discover why 30% of students were not finishing high school in Sevier County, Tennessee. She discovered the issues typically started during seventh and eighth grade. In 1991, Dolly told students that if they picked a “buddy,” agreed to encourage each other to stay in school, and both buddies graduated, then she would personally give each of them $500. The dropout rate fell to 6%. 
• Parton didn’t stop there. She wanted high school students to pursue their dreams after graduation. With the help of the Sevier County High School Alumni Association, she created the Dolly Parton Scholarship. 
• Her father, Robert Parton, never learned how to read and write, so in 1995, Dolly created the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This allowed children in Sevier County, Tennessee, to get books delivered straight to their houses at no cost to the family. Even now, 31 years later, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to send millions of books to children. 
• Parton’s niece, Hannah Dennison, survived leukemia during her childhood. Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital to create the Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden. She donated again to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in 2021, contributing another $1 million to help fund COVID-19 research. 

How You Can Honor her

We can remember Dolly Parton by doing more than listening to her music.

Here are some ways to honor her that reflect her giving personality:

• Donate books.
• Participate in literacy programs to help kids read.
• Tutor in your neighborhood or at your local high school.
• If you can, donate money. Even $1 could make a difference.
• Volunteer! Donate your time to food pantries and local non-profits. They often give relief and aid to struggling families. 
• Help beyond! Go outside of your neighborhood or city, and lend a hand there. 

Be like Dolly. Spread kindness. 

“If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.” – Dolly Parton 

To read more details about the life of Dolly Parton, check out her official biography page: https://www.dollyparton.com/bio 

To read more about Dolly Parton’s good deeds, read her official philanthropy page: https://www.dollyparton.com/philanthropy 

To read more tributes to Dolly Parton and to discover how widely adored she was, visit the official Her Campus website: https://www.hercampus.com/?s=dolly+parton

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