Dolly Parton, country music legend and philanthropist, dies at 80
Dolly Parton has died
Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer-songwriter known for hits like 'Jolene' and 'I Will Always Love You,' has died at age 80. Her nephew Brian Seaver announced the news on Instagram, expressing profound sadness. Parton's career spanned over six decades, with 25 US country No. 1 singles and a record 47 albums in the country Top 10. Beyond music, she was an acclaimed actress, a savvy businesswoman behind Dollywood, and a philanthropist whose Imagination Library donated over 150 million books to children. Her legacy includes a $1 million donation that helped fund the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
It takes a lot of money to look this cheap.
- mikestew
I’ve never been much of a country music fan, but I’ve always been a Dolly fan. Great songwriter, philanthropist, and seemed like a genuinely nice person. RIP, Dolly, you were one of the greats.
- Aboutplants
“Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has gifted over 318 million free books to children worldwide since its inception”
Amazing contributions to many aspects of life
- danans
To me, apart from her amazing music and philanthropy, what Dolly Parton represents is something that was (emphasis on past tense) at one time truly exceptional about the United States - that someone from a very humble background (poverty in East TN) could have a tremendous impact on the culture of the world - the other example in entertainment being Michael Jackson (from Gary IN).
Admittedly the US music industry was among the few where this phenomenon happened, although definitionally very few reach pop stardom.
In contrast, much of the world exports only its "elite culture", not the culture of common people.
- stevoski
A fun YouTube video of Dolly Parton in an Irish pub:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqdKrv1Vh-g
“Dolly Parton makes an impromptu appearance at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry and takes to the stage to entertain the locals.
While on holiday in Kerry, singer Dolly Parton paid a visit to former Kerry footballer Páidí Ó Sé’s pub, where she performs her song ‘Coat of Many Colours’ accompanied by musicians Steve Cooney and Seamus Begley.
Dolly signs off at the end of her performance,
Thank you very much and welcome to Dinglewood
This episode of Cursaí was broadcast on 1 October 1990.”
- mattsolle
If anyone hasn't listened to "Dolly Parton's America" (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america), I highly recommend it.
Does a great job interviewing Dolly and discussing with her (and those two are around her) who she is, her life events, her thoughts on life. I knew people loved Dolly Parton before I listened but didn't really know why and the podcast helped me understand a bit more of it. It features a LOT of one-on-one time with Dolly in a way that I don't often find docu-series do. It's fantastic!
- delichon
I put her in my pantheon with Johnny Cash. Turns out Cash introduced her on her Grand Ole Opry debut in 1959, when she was 13. She killed it. Parton said later she was best friends with Johnny and June.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcfyzJW-BA4
I don't think I've ever seen the interwebs talking about one thing as much as right now.
- curuinor
I am from the wrong continent to be inculcated in country music from an early age, but I read books distributed from her program every week to the niece. So that's probably her more durable contribution to society, I think.
- onlypassingthru
The US's only secular saint. Her memorial service will need to be held in a football stadium to handle the number of people who want to pay their last respects.