Dolly

An exemplar innovator. A twangy, transcendent Tennessean. A gifted songwriter who rose from humble means in Sevier County. Dolly Parton was often bigger than life, but she never, ever forgot that she was one of us.

I grew-up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and am in fact, a native of that same city. During the 70s, all of us knew who Dolly Parton was. We knew her for her music and we knew her for that sharp sense of humor. She was pretty much an icon of our era.

The lyrics that she wrote were beautifully poetic, full of spunk, and somehow managed to avoid being simply pop music. The words she wrote are embedded into our memories, and when retrieved, invoke a wide range of emotions which ebb and flow depending on the genre.

Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your skin is soft like summer rain
And I can not compete with you, Jolene (Jolene, 1973)

Tumble out of bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life ~ (9 to 5, 1980)

If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you every step of the way (I Will Always Love You, 1974)

Though she never quit writing music, her brand eventually grew into an empire. She had been blessed financially, and she worked diligently to give back to the place where she grew up.

Maybe her greatest contribution is her theme park which is aptly named Dollywood. She took a dying venture in Silver Dollar City….refitted it, rebranded it, and rethought the concept. Pigeon Forge, which was once simply a quick pit stop on the way to Gatlinburg, became its own destination. Shopping, eating, and amusement transformed this sleepy town into a moneymaking juggernaut. In her own way, Dolly Parton had lifted Sevier County out of poverty and placed it firmly into the conversation of places with lucrative real estate, plentiful jobs, and opportunities to invest. All of that was set at the foot of the great temperate rain forest, the Great Smoky Mountains.

Dolly Parton will also be remembered for her Imagination Library where newborn children all across Tennessee received books paid for by her. It didn’t matter how much money you made, you were going to get free books – good books. We have some in our personal libraries to this day.

When Gatlinburg burned during 2016, Dolly Parton donated $12.5 million dollars to the victims of that devastating fire. Each family who had been left homeless was given $1,000/mos for five months – probably more than that for some.

Her many television and social media appearances were full of country twang. Her comments were void of personal judgement. She was simply relentless and inspiring in being so.

Most of all, she represented the people of the foothills of East Tennessee with a genuine smile, her impeccable ability to “turn a phrase” at exactly the right moment, and her innovative intellect. She seemed to never tire of signing autographs. In fact, the song Jolene was partly inspired by a young autograph seeker with bright, red hair and the trademark name – Jolene. We all felt like we knew Dolly on a first name basis.

Dolly Rebecca Parton made her mark. She has left us with an example of endearing originality, a unique personal flair, and amazing empathy. I would normally say, “Rest in peace,” but we all know that ain’t happening. Full of life and eternal energy, Dolly just woke up in the forever Kingdom of the King! I got a feeling they are more than excited to receive the little gal from Sevier County with a beautiful voice and a way with words.

Let the party begin. Dolly has come home.