If The World Was Like Dolly Parton We Would Be Better

Before I begin I want to remind everyone in the niche of Music, Movies and/or Entertainment, that writing a post about Dolly Parton on your website can bring you traffic. She was loved the world over and is a niche unto herself.

Now on to my memorial post...

I’ve been carrying a soft spot for Dolly Parton longer than I can remember. That big blonde hair, the rhinestones, the wicked sense of humor, and that voice that could make you laugh one minute and cry the next.

I have always said, she felt like family even if you never met her. Losing her at 80 after a brief battle with cancer still stings, but the light she left behind is brighter than any stage spotlight she ever stood under.

HOW DOLLY PARTON PAID IT FORWARD

Born in a one-room cabin in the Tennessee mountains, Dolly turned hard times into anthems and then turned success into pure generosity. Her Imagination Library may be the sweetest gift she ever gave the world.

What started as a way to honor her father, who never learned to read, grew into a program that has mailed more than 300 million free books to children from birth to age five. It didn't matter who or where they lived.

Millions of little ones across several countries woke up to a new story in their mailbox each month because Dolly believed every child deserves the chance to fall in love with reading. Reading books sparks imagination.

She didn’t stop at books. When the world needed help during the pandemic, she quietly donated a million dollars to Vanderbilt research that helped develop the Moderna vaccine. She even took her shot on live TV.

She showed up for disaster relief after wildfires and floods, funded scholarships, supported children’s hospitals, and kept finding new ways to lift people up without ever making a big fuss about it. She truly had a heart of gold.

Dolly once said she was “addicted to the feeling of giving,” and you could feel that addiction in every kind act. Near her hometown, she built Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, boosting the local economy and providing many jobs.

What I loved most was how she stayed herself through it all; funny, humble, and fiercely loving. She could joke about her own image while building a legacy that had nothing to do with fame and everything to do with heart.

She embodied the message of Jesus Christ, love others as you love yourself. In a world that often feels short on kindness, Dolly Parton proved that one person with open hands and an open spirit can change countless lives.

Sleep easy, Dolly. We’ll keep reading the books, sharing the songs, and trying to pass along a little of that famous Parton generosity. The world is better because you were in it. What did you admire about Dolly Parton?