Down in the dumps about the state of the world, I have found myself “trumbl[ing] outta bed” and relying on a “cup of ambition” (or more honestly, two or three cups of coffee) this year more times than I care to admit. Through quarantine, I found myself relying on some of my old favorite music, books, and movies to stay cheerful.
I especially leaned into listening to one of my all-time favorite artists, Dolly Parton. One of the most universally loved music artists in modern history, Parton has her own theme park, can yodel, can play ten instruments, and possesses talent beyond belief. Did y’all know she wrote “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day? I digress.
I even went as far as to read a book about Dolly Parton and listen to “Dolly Parton’s America,” a nine-part podcast that captivatingly delves into Dolly’s life story and career. If you’re ever looking for podcast recommendations, by the way, it was a phenomenal listen!
It’s no question that Dolly Parton made the early months of my 2020 bearable. But having seen her name trending on Twitter in the news the past few days, I pose the question: Did Dolly Parton just make everyone’s 2020 better?
In April, Parton donated $1 million to a fund at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and credits her friend and researcher Dr. Naji Abumrad (coincidentally, the father of the creator of “Dolly Parton’s America”) for inspiration. According to early research data, the Nashville center was one of the trial sites for the Moderna vaccine, which has made headlines since Monday for being almost 95% effective. The New England Journal of Medicine acknowledged her for partially funding the Moderna vaccine.
In an interview on BBC’s The One Show on Tuesday, Parton said she feels “so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help heal this world.”
Because we all need more good news, and I firmly believe that we all need more Dolly Parton in our lives—this is just a reminder that one woman really can have it all.