Sometimes, it seems a little weird to just go on with life when big things happen in the country or world. There have been a couple of times I’ve spoken out about something, but it’s rare for me to do so. Today seems like one of those days when I just have to say something. Dolly Parton wasn’t necessarily one of my favorite singers. If I listen to country music, it’s from the Outlaws, Willie Nelson, or even Brooks & Dunn. I had been unaware of all the songs Dolly wrote that others sang.
Just a little…
I don’t know that I’ve ever heard Dolly referred to as anything but Dolly. I’ve never heard her called Mrs. Dean or even Ms. Parton. I don’t know…that may have happened. But, it seems she’s always been just Dolly. She’s like the good Judy we’ve always known and had beside us. I wouldn’t say she was like your granny with chocolate chip cookies, kisses, and too much powder. Somehow, I can’t see Dolly as anyone’s granny. But, I can surely see her as everyone’s best neighbor ever.
Philanthropic acts…
Unless you live outside the US or under a rock, you’re probably familiar with Dolly’s Imagination Library. She founded this program because she loved her daddy. Dolly’s daddy couldn’t read or write. She often said he was so smart, and she knew it hurt him to be illiterate. She often wondered what he could have done with his life if things had been different for him. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in 1995. The initial focus was providing books to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, Dolly’s birthplace. From birth to age five, a child could receive a free, high quality book every month for free. That’s a total of 60 free books! The program was initiated in 1995. Dolly’s Imagination Library doesn’t directly buy and mail the books. It operates under the Dollywood umbrella and “provides administrative support and negotiates book pricing, while local partners raise funds to cover the wholesale and mailing costs associated with children in their communities (source).” From what I could gather (by clicking through the Imagination Library’s website), you can sign up for the program at your local library. In 2023, Dolly’s Imagination Library gave away its 200 millionth book!
Other acts…
In 2020, Dolly donated $1,000,000 to Vanderbilt University to support funding research leading to a Covid-19 vaccine. That was her personal money…not from a foundation or anything like that. In 2022, she gave an additional $1,000,000 for pediatric infectious-disease research to Vanderbilt. ““I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” Parton told PEOPLE in 2021. “Knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else (source).” After a wildfire in 2016, Dolly and her Dollywood foundation donated upward of $12 million to the people of Sevier County. Some families received several thousand dollars over the course of six months. After Hurricane Helene, Dolly and her foundation donated a total of $2 million dollars to relief efforts.
Scholarships…
As a teacher, I just love this one! For a long time, Sevier County had a real problem with low graduation rates. Dolly initiated a Buddy System. Dolly didn’t give away a big scholarship (at that time). Instead, she told seventh and eighth graders she would personally hand them a check for $500 if they graduated high school. The idea was to have a buddy to keep you going to school. The graduation rate for those two classes was 94% when it had been 65% for other classes! And, Dolly handed those graduates their checks for $500! While that program no longer exists, Dolly’s Foundation now gives out five scholarships to Sevier County high school seniors attending any accredited university. This scholarship is $15,000! In addition, the Foundation also administers other scholarships. In 2016, Dolly awarded a Special Merit Scholarship to two year old Evey Johns. The initial amount was $30,000. By the time she’s ready for college, Evey’s scholarship may have grown to over $50,000! This scholarship was to celebrate the shipment of one million books per month by the Imagination Library!
Dollywood…
If you’ve ever been to Dollywood, you know it’s an expensive place. I haven’t been there since my kids were little, but I remember the beautiful flowers. I especially remember one bed of wax begonias in the shape of a butterfly, an emblem very much associated with Dolly. Well, if you happen to be an employee at Dollywood, full-time, part-time, or even seasonal, Dolly’s got your back. Beginning in 2022, the Dollywood Foundation covers 100% of tuition, fees, and books for any employee furthering their education. This is done via Herschuend Enterprises, Dollywood’s operating partner.
Even more…
Dolly donated another million dollars to The Salvation Army in December, 2023. The money was allocated to food and grocery programs across the United States. This gift provided roughly 2.5 million meals to people in need. In 2021, Dolly bought a strip mall! Using money from royalties she’d earned from Whitney Houston’s cover of her song, “I Will Always Love You,” Dolly bought an office complex in a Black neighborhood in Nashville. Calling it “the House that Whitney Built,” Dolly’s office is located there.
“I bought my big office complex down in Nashville. So I thought, ‘Well, this is a wonderful place to be,’ “ Parton said. “I bought a property down in what was the Black area of town, and it was mostly just Black families and people that lived around there. It was off the beaten path from 16th Avenue and I thought, ‘Well, I am gonna buy this place — the whole strip mall.’ And I thought, ‘This is the perfect place for me to be,’ considering it was Whitney. I thought this was great — I’m just gonna be down here with her people, who are my people as well,” she continued. “So I just love the fact that I spent that money on a complex and I think, ‘This is the house that Whitney built (source).’ “
Dolly’s humor…
If you think Dolly was only about songs, wigs, and such, you’ve never heard any of her best quotes. Here is a link to some of her best quotes. My favorite, if I am forced to pick one: “I’m not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.”
The outfit…
This is the second of the Farm Rio skirts I bought earlier this summer. You’ve seen it in a Fashion Files post. But, I thought it deserved its own post. I paired it with a maroon linen tee from J Crew. It’s got this lovely print that almost reminds me of olives even though they’re lemons (I think). I think it could be worn with any number of different colors, including an olive green tee as well as a denim shirt. I don’t know that I would wear this with a different print, though. I want the print on the skirt to be the star of the show! I didn’t add a belt though I do have several that would work.
The Lewk!
I wore this to the museum for a tour so I needed comfy shoes. These are the Eileen Fisher Willow Sandals. I think I’m on my third or fourth summer with them. They’re still comfortable and still going strong. I added several wooden beaded bracelets along with a pair of Sylca Designs Assuta earrings. The necklace is also by Sylca Designs.
Wrap it up, Marsha
Am I a fan of Dolly Parton, the singer? Not really. Am I fan of Dolly Parton, the person. There is no question…I definitely am. I have never seen her in person, but from everything I’ve read, she was an amazingly kind person. Isn’t it amazing someone who came from nothing and amassed so much gave as much away as she could? Oh, and the title of the post? I was looking for the way Tennesseeans say goodbye! That one seemed the most like Dolly. So, can we talk? What other charitable work did Dolly do I didn’t mention? Do you have a favorite Dolly song? What do you think of her charity work? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Affiliate links, discount codes, and such:
Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. My April Cornell code, MARSHA15, now works, but it’s good for only one use. You can get $15 off $100. I’d wait and use it during a really good sale! Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA15, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. Use MARSHA15 at Katia Designs for 15% off your order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post. I have now have a code for Tulip Clothing. Use the code, MARSHA20, for 20% off your order.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge as well as Deb’s World . I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!