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!
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She was a wonderful person, a true icon. My granddaughter Olive received many books under her Imagination Library scheme and some of them are her favorites. A very sad loss.
Thank you, Gail! It is amazing to discover how much was behind those big wigs and other big things! She made a huge impact on so many people, changing lives as she went. It is, indeed, a sad loss.
I’m with you. I don’t know many of Dolly’s songs – in fact I hardly know any country music – and I have never seen a film with her, but what she achieved outside of that career and how she gave back was amazing. A worthy tribute.
Thank you, Cat! I don’t think I’ve seen any of her movies, either. But, I did know the song, “Jolene,” from when it was on The Blacklist. Of course, Mike has always liked her and knows a lot of them. It really is amazing that someone who was born in a home without running water accomplished so much only to give lots of it away!
I learned some things about Dolly that I didn’t know! You have provided a lot of really good information on her extremely generous nature. We are planning to go to Dollywood this fall. It will be a little bittersweet to be there without her (not that I expected to see her walking around the park or anything…).
Thanks, Maria! I learned quite a bit, too, and I really only looked a little bit. I would love to go back to Dollywood someday, but my husband can’t travel at the moment. I remember being there a couple of times with my mom. My kids loved going there, and my oldest goes every year with his family. I think she showed up there every once in a while. I hope you still have a wonderful time! Have you been before?
Dolly was one of those people who was just always there. She was an amazing woman! My nephew used to get books from Dolly’s Imagination Library and we’re here in England so she did reach that far which I think is truly amazing!
Thanks, Kim! I hope he has some of those books around still. I read that her Imagination Library is going strong in many countries other than the US.
Oh wow, I learnt so much today from your post, I really didn’t know much about Dolly.
Thanks, Rosie! I was surprised by a couple of things though I was very much aware about the Imagination Library. She really was an amazing woman who touched the hearts and lives of so many.
I love the detailing on your skirt, Marsha! Thanks for sharing all the amazing details about Dolly Parton. Over the past few days I’ve been reminded why she is so beloved. Her Dolly-isms spark so much wisdom and the many ways she seemed to “walk the walk” rather than simply “talk the talk” is something to be truly admired. Her passion for seeking, encouraging and uplifting the humanity in our world as well as her belief in the power of education and getting books into the hands of as many are lessons she taught us all. I heard this morning that she left the world one more surprise – she locked a secret, unreleased song inside a time capsule at her Dollywood resort and per her strict instructions, the capsule cannot be opened until January 19, 2046, which would mark her 100th birthday. I hope I’m around to hear it!
Thank you, Laura! It’s a really pretty skirt…even better in person. I was so surprised when I just did a cursory bit of research on her. I knew about the books, but I didn’t know about the scholarships. You put it so well about how she sought out, encouraged, and uplifted people. I did hear about the unlocked song, but I didn’t realize it wouldn’t be released until 2046. I really hope her legacy is still going strong then, and I really, really hope I’m around to hear it!
I’ve always liked Dolly (as much as one can like a complete stranger). I’ve been to Dollywood a few times and “met” a few of her family members. They’ve all have that quick wit and can sing really well. Our gym did a tribute to her yesterday playing nothing but Dolly songs all day.
It really is amazing to see how much she was loved by people around the world. My son and his family go to Dollywood often. I’ll have to ask him if they’ve “met” any family, too. It was amazing to see how many AI generated videos were on YouTube yesterday. It sure didn’t take long.
The more you hear about Dolly, the more you love her, right?? Now that’s a way to live…
And that skirt?? Incredible and I bet you can wear it all year long.
XOOX
Jodie
Thank you, Jodie! It’s amazing how little I researched and found out so much. It truly is the way to live. I wonder how many sermons were preached the next Sunday exhorting congregations to live like Dolly. I will definitely wear it into late fall because the colors lean that way, anyway. I have lots and lots of winter skirts so I probably won’t wear it then. But, it’s just such a beautiful print and style.
Marsha, thanks for honoring Dolly. My mother was a fan of Porter Wagoner, who Dolly originally sang with. He had a show on TV every Saturday afternoon, and since we had only one TV, I watched it with my mom. I had no idea she was just a few years older than I was then she was already so polished nd professional. So I feel like I grew up with her and her music grew on me to the point that I didn’t think of her as a country artist. She wrote songs that spoke to our hearts and will be classics forever.
Thank you, Aletha! My dad loved country music…especially the Porter Wagoner kind. And, his show was on every Saturday at our house, too. I remember her big bouffant hair and her cute little country dresses then. I love that she grew her brand and embraced every inch of it. I love your last sentence…”She wrote songs that spoke to our hearts and will be classics forever.” I really hope that’s true and that future generations will know and love her work. I also hope her charity work continues. I’m pretty sure, as wise as she was, she put in place things to make sure it would.
Hi Marsha, this was a great recap of many of the things Dolly Parton did for the world, and a lot more probably that we don’t know about. She didn’t seem to be one to blow her own trumpet as many of these donations weren’t huge headlines (well not here in Aus anyway) but she just got on with using her wealth to help make the world a better place. We need more Dolly’s in the world! Thanks for your lovely post, she wasn’t my favourite singer either but I am so impressed with her philanthropy. She was also involved with Rotary on some of those issues so I’m proud to know that.
Debbie debs-world.com
Thank you, Debbie! I think you are probably right that there are so many more little (but big in Dolly’s world) things she did we will never know about. I was so very surprised by just googling a little bit and discovering just a few things. We certainly do need more Dolly’s in this world…think how much some of these billionaires and a certain trillionaire could do…but they don’t. It’s a sad statement about them; however, we can and will celebrate Dolly for many years to come! I didn’t know she was involved with Rotary. I’m sure that really put a smile on your face!
What a beautiful tribute to Dolly! I knew about the Imagination Library and her support of vaccine research, but I had no idea about the Buddy System or the education benefits for Dollywood employees. Her generosity really is such an incredible part of her legacy.
Thank you, Laura! I just felt like I needed to acknowledge her passing. And, since I love to learn, I did just a bit of research. I had actually forgotten about her donation for vaccine research, but I knew about the Imagination Library. I was so surprised about the other educational opportunities she put in place. Dolly was just an amazing person, and she will be missed by many.
I was shocked when I read she passed away. Not because I’m such a fan, but because of who she was. An amazing person. I don’t like country music at all, but Jolene…….. gosh, never can keep my eyes dry with that song.
Nancy, I’m like you. I wasn’t a big fan of her music (though I liked a lot of songs she wrote that I didn’t know she wrote). I really do like Jolene…we should do that for Songful Style!
Dolly’s passing touched me. I think she touched so many people’s lives and I think she was one of those beautiful genuinely good people.
Thank you, Nicole! I think almost everyone was touched by her passing. She truly was one of the people we need more of…openly generous as well as quietly generous. She truly was one in a million.
This was a great post! Honestly, Dolly mostly came up in jokes as I was growing up. “Islands in the Stream” was popular and that was a punch line. I’m not dumb or really blonde, either, so that is also my favorite! What a life and what a legacy. I wonder what it would have been like for her had she had children of her own.
Thanks, Amy! It really is sad that Dolly was the butt of so many jokes. But, what’s funny is she knew it and almost encouraged it! I always wondered about why she didn’t have her own children, too. Judging from the relationship between her and Miley Cyrus, I’d bet she would have been great. Imagine her as your grandma or auntie!
I’m a huge fan of Dolly and was so sad at her passing. My mum used to listen to her when I was a kid, she had the sweetest voice. One of my favourite quips of hers was on a British TV chat show. The host remarked on her small feet and she fired right back “Well, nothing grows in the shade!” I love your skirt, it’s so pretty, and it looks great with the burgundy top!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thank you, Emma! We definitely lost a wonderful person with Dolly’s passing! I have heard that quote…she was so quick with her funny retorts!