Dolly Parton was the best of us. It's as simple as that.
Over the course of human history, there is one Dolly. There will probably only ever be one Dolly, as badly as the world needs as many Dollys as we can possibly get. News of Parton's death is a titanic blow to the comfort you had in just simply knowing she was out there, spreading joy, charity and love with that signature twinkle in her eye.
Her life is immeasurable; you just can't fathom how much she put into the world while she was here. The music, yes, the movies, the television appearances, concerts, the small interactions where she made a fan feel like they were the most important person in the world. She made everyone feel welcome and important. She was pure good.
If you grew up around
Tennessee, you knew from an early age that Parton was one of our patron saints. Yes, the music was great. Of course, 9 To 5 is a classic every family watched together at some point, your grandma humming along to the title track in her recliner with a big grin on her face. We all went to Dollywood at some point; saw all the big butterflies that seemed to represent Parton's gregarious spirit spreading throughout the world. Parton was unanimous with our lives, but not just for the entertainment... never just for the entertainment.
We all knew about where Parton came from; humble beginnings in East Tennessee from a large family that didn't have much but still build up the kind of love and compassion that influenced the state's eventual greatest citizen. We knew that Dollywood meant more than just rides and country shows; the park reshaped the economy of the Smoky Mountains and gave the people Parton came from real fiscal stability from the tourism revenue and plentiful jobs that Dollywood created in and out of the park into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. She put her home on the map and set it up to prosper for generations to come. She planted communal care that grew like a strong oak tree.
We knew plenty about the Imagination Library, a generation-spanning charity that sent children books to read at no cost, influenced by Parton's father, a hard-working farmer who never was fortunate enough to learn to read or write. The organization, per Parton, gave her father more pride than anything she'd achieved in music or fame. She recalled that her dad loved when people would call her "The Book Lady." She wanted a better life for kids.
Honestly, before you even hear "Jolene" for the first time or realize just how ubiquitous she is in global culture, we knew about her giving heart. There was never a shock over the years to see how generous she could be, from helping fund one of the COVID-19 vaccines to her efforts to help those in the Smokies after the 2016 wildfires. People around Tennessee spoke about her with extreme reverence; it wasn't just about what kind of a singer she was (a great one), or how talented a songwriter she was (an even greater one), or how funny she could be (extremely), or how successful she was in everything she did (very, just in case that wasn't already clear). She raised a righteous banner that made everyone in the state beam with pride. She was absolutely the best of us.
People wanted Dolly Parton to be the president because she represented everything that was good about people. She loved everybody; she didn't judge. She took the teachings of Jesus she learned as a child and handcrafted those values into the way she treated people and the way she build up communities that needed love. She didn't use her fame and fortune lightly; she was a proud philanthropist and lover of people near and far. In a world of so much selfishness and anger, Parton preached acceptance and practiced selflessness. She really walked the walk.
What's powerful about Parton's life is that her virtues were so easy to identify. There was never any obfuscation to Parton's popularity; it was plain why people adored her as they did. Yes, they loved the music. Of course, they loved seeing her pop up on the television screen for a good laugh and stirring performance. However, beyond all of that, they knew she cared. They knew she could be trusted. They knew of her giving nature and her sparkling empathy. What a potent idea: even if we don't have Parton's means or influence, we can sure as Sunday be good to others like she was, accepting and loving to everybody as she always was. Her virtues are still urgent and easy to imitate.
Dolly really was the best of us. The way she lived her life makes you want to live a better one. There are few more powerful legacies to leave behind than that. May her flame still burn, even if she's gone. We need it more than ever.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dolly Parton was the best of us | Opinion
