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Dolly Parton, the legendary singer-songwriter and philanthropist, has died at 80. Her rags-to-riches story embodied the American dream, while her Imagination Library distributed over 150 million books worldwide. Known for hits like 'Jolene' and 'I Will Always Love You', she was also a talented actress and a unifier in divisive political times.
Dolly Parton, who has died in Nashville at the age of 80, lived the best sort of American life. Her journey from a one-room shack in Tennessee to worldwide stardom spoke to limitless possibilities the United States still believes in, as part of its national mythology.
More important, she embodied a big-sky generosity that recognised the needs of those who had not yet travelled so far. She was a brilliant songwriter, a sweet singer and a fine comic actor. She was also one of the most original philanthropists of her time. Her Imagination Library literacy scheme distributed more than 150 million books to children throughout the world.
Ireland, where she was particularly popular, was the fifth country to enrol in the project.
“It’s the fact they get recognised,” she said of the recipients. Listeners get a sense of early hardships from the lyrics to her 1971 song Coat of Many Colours.
“Momma sewed the rags together,” Parton sang. “Sewing every piece with love, she made my coat of many colours that I was so proud of. ” She began performing professionally as a teenager and, following a brief dalliance in bubble-gum pop, secured country success. Solo renown came when the supernaturally catchy Jolene hit big in 1973.
The self-consciously flamboyant image maybe distracted from her staggering talent.
“It takes a lot of money to look this cheap,” she famously remarked. She was one of the best songwriters of her generation. I Will Always Love You, written over 50 years ago, sounds as striking in Parton’s delicate original as it does in Whitney Houston’s 1992 wineglass-shattering rendition. Dolly Parton’s last act was to briefly silence America’s toxic political discourseGot a CAO offer?
The temptation is to accept immediately, but take your time Parton was a woman of sharp intelligence and bottomless munificence. Successfully avoiding association with either side of the US political divide, she supported causes she believed in, many related to equality.
“Of course black lives matter,” she said in 2020. “Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No! ” These days such statements cause controversy in a divided US.
But Parton died as one of its most unquestioningly loved entertainers. No better American life. Boston Scientific lays groundwork to shift $15bn from Irish operationCAO helpdesk 2026: ‘I missed medicine on random selection, could I get it on round two? ’ Rory McIlroy looking to finish PGA Tour season on a high as he targets a fourth Tour Championship crown
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