Many accolades are arriving from all over the world from presidents, fellow entertainers, and ordinary folks on the occasion of the passing of Dolly Parton. All of it well deserved.
Famous for so many things, her artistry at composing songs that speak to the heart, her business acumen, her inspired philanthropy including her support of book reading for children—her Imagination Library has given away over 320 million books to kids (born of her father’s illiteracy, she tells us, and how much he missed from that handicap), her support of people on the margins including gay, lesbian and trans, her support of women, her support of those having undergone disaster, and so much more.
The New York Times praised her “arduous and unexpected life.”
One of her most amazing accomplishments is bringing together many Americans of so many political persuasions. Polls show her to be the most popular person in America, running 20 points ahead of the runner-up, President Obama.
One of 12 children raised in a one-room shack, sans indoor plumbing, she was the first in the family to graduate from high school. Though she succeeded in a big way, she nevertheless stayed true to her roots and incorporated many lessons from her childhood into her songs.
Musician Jack White was playing a concert in London and, on hearing of her death, offered a rendition of her hit song, “Jolene.” He shared a photograph on Instagram, with the caption, “Instant Sainthood.”
One of Dolly’s many gifts was her sense of humor—including the gift of laughing at herself and the public character she created. In an interview in 2002, she confessed: I’ve created this and played it up. But this isn’t all I am. It’s not even most of what I am. Hopefully people can see beneath the hair to know there’s a brain beneath, beneath the boobs to know there’s a heart, and behind all the other stuff to know there’s some talent.
One article headlined, “Dolly Parton Outsmarted Every Dumb-Blonde Joke,” comments: “Nothing a critic or comic said about Parton—and they said plenty—compared with what she said about herself. She stepped on their punchlines and took away their power.”
Redd Foxx aired a skit laughing at her breasts, and she sent him a telegram requesting “two equally ample apologies.” Her response to a fashion critic placing her among the “10 Worst-Dressed Women,” was, “I thought he’d never notice.”
She also laughed at her profession. When Barbara Walters tried to criticize her style, Parton replied: “It’s certainly a choice. Show business is a moneymaking joke, and I just always liked telling jokes, you know?”
Art unites people, and Parton did that. I learned the power of art to melt boundaries and fears when I was studying in Paris in my 20s and led a group of American college students on a trip to Russia. At one event we met with a group of Russian college students, but when we entered the gymnasium, they were at one end of the room, and we gravitated to the other. Everyone was uncomfortable. Nothing was happening—it was the worst party I had ever been at; one could feel years of Cold War propaganda building up at both ends of the room.
Then the Russians sang, “Song of the Volga Boatmen,” and the Americans responded with a new hit at that time, “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” Then the Russians engaged in a Cossack dance; we responded with a dance. Then both groups melded together.
I have never forgotten that moment. How art brings people together and melts boundaries. Didn’t Thomas Aquinas write, “The first effect of love is melting”? Thank you, Dolly, for your melting of hearts.
Banner Image: “Tie the Knot,” the Kim Radford mural of Dolly Parton in Ringgold, Georgia, celebrating the country music legend’s 1966 wedding to Carl Dean in the town. The mural was commissioned by the city in 2022 to mark the couple’s 56th wedding anniversary. Photo by Brent Moore on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
Do you have a favorite story or song from Dolly Parton?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet
The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest
The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time
5 thoughts on “Thank You, Dolly Parton, For Your Art, Humor & Deep Humanity”
I like Dolly’s cover of What’s Up – which was written by Linda Perry – from Rockstar, Dolly’s last record. Dolly and Linda made a video.
Dolly tells her story in the song Backwoods Barbie. The video is thought provoking as it juxtaposes the colors of nature in the woods down home with the darkness of the streets of Hollywood.
What’s Up
https://youtu.be/Ruw0_o-tWzk?si=bY6mheppELQpVbLa
Backwoods Barbie
https://youtu.be/VJBz1U6Y-pg?si=XteRb7QsPp561yOS
Thank you Matthew for honoring a true humanitarian and Angel! I’m sure she’s joyfully singing for Everyone in Heaven!
Dolly emanated love and authenticity. I was never a huge fan of her music, but I’ve always admired and respected her as a person. Love and authenticity are two characteristics that are painfully missing from most of our culture, which is why she stands out so much. We crave those things in our public figures — and each other. The lesson I take from her is to always be authentically myself, and to approach people and situations with the love of god in my heart.
Thank you, Mark. I was going to be doing Buddhist mantras and Christian chants this morning and meditating, and I may still get to some; but I’m finding watching tributes to and clips of Dolly Parton this morning to be more healing and inspiring. Exactly what you said. I have never really followed Dolly, though a favorite album is the Trio album with Emmylou Harris, Dolly, and Linda Ronstadt back in the day. You have said it well. “We crave these things in our public figures and each other.” My viewings this morning have indeed inspired me once again to raise my own spirits and return to my authentic self. Oh, how we all need her positive attitude, her kindness, her vision, and even gracious love of ourselves today.
What an angel of brilliant talent, grace, beauty. humour, wit, love, inclusiveness, intelligence and kindness and active empathy. As a retired teacher, I love her imagination library, fabulous. Heaven gains, we lose a beautiful light in the world. Favorites: Jolene and Nine to Five.