Dolly Parton’s is a very American story.
That story began in the mountains of East Tennessee, where she was born in 1946. She was the fourth of 12 children in a family that lived in a one-room cabin. Her father worked as a sharecropper, and the family had very little money. Still, the Parton home was full of music, faith, humor, and love.
A talented musician, Dolly turned those early experiences into songs. In “Coat of Many Colors,” she told the story of a coat that her mother made from fabric scraps. Other children laughed at the coat and mocked Dolly because her family was poor. But Dolly looked at things differently. To her, every stitch of that precious coat held her mother’s love, a love that embraced and warmed her body and soul.
That way of seeing the world was an integral part of Dolly’s gift. She could face hardship without letting it make her bitter; in fact, it is difficult to think of a more effervescent person. In a 2003 interview, Dolly said her parents had taught her strong beliefs, principles, and values. She said she tried to count her blessings more than her money. She also said she never took her success for granted
Dolly worked endlessly for that success. She began singing on radio and television at about age 10. At 18, she moved to Nashville and knocked on doors, hoping to build a career. Over time, her songs resonated deeply with millions of people across musical genres and tastes. Her fans stayed with her through decades of music, movies, and performances. Dolly later said she was thankful for the fans who had supported her all those years and permitted her to board her star.
Yet Dolly Parton never really left home.
In 1995, she started the Imagination Library in Sevier County, the Tennessee community where she grew up. She was inspired by her father, who was unable to read or write. The program began by mailing free books to local children from birth to age five. Then local partners joined in. The idea spread across Tennessee, the United States, and other nations. The program has now mailed more than 270 million books.
Dolly also responded when her neighbors faced disaster. When wildfires destroyed homes in Sevier County in 2016, the Dollywood Foundation created the My People Fund within 48 hours. The fund provided monthly help to families whose homes had been destroyed or made unlivable. Because people across the country donated, the final checks grew to $5,000 per family. In all, $8.9 million went directly to wildfire victims. The fund also gave $200,000 to local volunteer fire departments.
There is something very American about the way she lived her life. With her celebrity and wealth that would have been unimaginable to her as a child, she could have sealed herself off from her roots and from the needs of fellow citizens in need. Instead she acted, often without fanfare. That is kindness and charity, but it is also what self-government can look like when citizens take responsibility for their neighbors.
One person stepped forward. A community joined her. Then other communities did the same.
Dolly Parton’s songs will live on. So will the millions of books placed in children’s hands, the families helped after losing their homes, and the communities changed by her example. Her life began in a one-room cabin, but she never forgot the people and values that shaped her. One person stepped forward, others joined her, and a simple act of care became a lasting legacy.
That is an American story worth remembering and, to paraphrase one of the songs that enabled her to share her all-American spirit and generosity, we will always love her.