On August 25th, 2026, we lost an incredibly special woman who always led with love and inspired the world with her music, generosity and authenticity. We lost a masterclass of a woman. We lost Dolly Parton. She preached staying true to oneself and was an extraordinary role model for all people, but most of all, young women. As a young woman myself, I have learned so much from her, and I know everyone else can too. She always wanted to be good and do good for others, and that is exactly what she will be remembered for. Though there will never be another one, we should all be more like Dolly and keep her words of wisdom alive within us. Especially now.
Her Resilience
Dolly Parton grew up in an impoverished household amongst her eleven siblings in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and managed to build a legendary career in music and philanthropy, and became a country music icon. She has shared her resilience with the world and encourages us to find it within ourselves. In times of hardship, rejection or struggle, I try to remember what Dolly says: “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with rain.” This is such a beautiful and important message that serves as a reminder that good things are coming.
Her Authenticity
Though she was known for her signature big blonde hair and rhinestones, she never hid or forgot where she came from and embraced her differences, which is something we could all learn from. There’s so much pressure to be or act a certain way, especially in early adulthood, but finding and embracing who we are will always lead to a life of happiness and fulfillment. In her words, “Find who you are and do it on purpose.” She was also honest about who she was in humorous ways, which made her even more relatable and lovable. Something many of us can relate to is when she states, “My weaknesses have always been food and men—in that order.”
Her Kindness
Dolly was a lover of all people. She said, “I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are, and love who they love.” Regardless of someone’s background, belief or identity, she treated every individual with kindness. It’s important to greet others with an open mind and an open heart and to avoid judging others on things like physical appearance or status.
Her Generosity
Not only was Dolly kind and compassionate, but she had a love for serving others and helping as much as she could and in as many ways as she could. Her generosity changed lives for so many people. She launched her very own Imagination Library that has provided children with access to free books for thirty-one years. This library has gifted more than 332 million books worldwide. She also donates millions of dollars to children’s hospitals, disaster and flood relief, and COVID-19 vaccine research. Though we may not be able to reach as many people as Dolly did, finding small ways to be more generous towards other people in daily life makes a difference. Besides, it’s what Dolly would have wanted.
References:
McGough, Nellah. (2026, August 26). 38 All-Time Best Dolly Parton Quotes To Live By.
Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/culture/dolly-parton-quotes
Wertheimer, Tiffany. (2026, August) How Dolly Parton helped the world – from children’sÂ
books to supporting Covid vaccine. BBC.