‘The world is certainly a lot dimmer without the light of the divine Dolly’
“Oh no!” was the cry heard far and wide when news came through of the death of Dolly Parton.
She was 80 years old and had struggled with health issues in recent times, but how could this legend be gone?
Dolly Parton died at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer, her family announced on Tuesday. Stephen Lovekin/WireImage for Songwriter’s Hall of Fame
My 10-year-old daughter admitted that while she didn’t know many of Dolly’s songs, she couldn’t imagine a world without Dolly in it. The world is certainly a lot dimmer without the light of the divine Dolly.
Her music is what made her a star. She had a voice of an angel, and a songwriting ability that could only have been a gift from the gods.
She told all of our stories - of heartbreak, of poverty, of love found and lost, of working women, of striving to be better - captured in the genius line of the song 9 to 5 “pour myself a cup of ambition”.
Her music was everything, but Dolly was so much more.
Dolly told all of our stories, including those of working women, of striving to be better - captured in the genius line of the song 9 to 5 “pour myself a cup of ambition”. Syndicated Features Ltd.
The singer’s Imagination Library, set up in 1995, delivers hundreds of millions of free books to children all around the world, including in Australia. Photographic
She knew the power of kindness and generosity and gave so much to others.
Her Imagination Library, set up in 1995, delivers hundreds of millions of free books to children all around the world - including in Australia - providing the gift of reading that her own illiterate father missed out on.
She donated $1 million dollars in 2020 during the depths of the global Covid-19 pandemic to help find a vaccine.
Her Dollywood Foundation set up during the peak of her career in the 1980’s funded scholarships and incentives that drastically cut the high school dropout rate in the Tennessee County, where she was raised.
She admitted in one interview that she was “kind of addicted to the feeling of giving”.
Imagine the difference that could be made if all the uber rich followed Dolly’s lead?
Dolly Parton was also a beacon for being true to yourself. On the face of it, she looked like the exact opposite of what you’d expect from female empowerment.
On the face of it, Dolly looked like the exact opposite of what you’d expect from female empowerment, but she was the embodiment of being true to yourself. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Adorned in rhinestones, with big hair and boobs, makeup and fake nails and tight fitting outfits, she seemed like a parody of a cliched dumb blonde. But there was nothing dumb about Dolly.
She wasn’t just in on the joke, she was one step ahead, delivering brilliant lines like, “’“it takes a lot of money to look this cheap”.
Dolly was universally loved because love is what she gave to the world.
Married to the love of her life Carl Dean for more than 60 years Dolly said she’d found a man who “gave me what I need - freedom, love and security”.
Her career and ambition was allowed to soar, and we all got to go along for the ride.
Thank you Dolly for all that you were, and all that you gave. We will always love you.
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