25/08/2026
This evening we say goodbye to Dolly Parton. Undoubtedly a country music legend but doesn’t that feels like one of the smallest descriptions you could give her?
Here’s a fact that says more about Dolly than a thousand tributes:
She started the Imagination Library in 1995 because her father, who was one of the smartest men she knew, had never learned to read or write. What began with children in her tiny corner of Tennessee became a worldwide programme that has now given more than 300 million books to children (free of charge!)
The Beautiful Dolly was no talker, she was a doer and she founded the Imagination Library that gave so much📚
She came from a family of 12 children, growing up in a tiny two room cabin in the Tennessee mountains without electricity or running water. Her upbringing never became something she tried to hide, she carried it into her songs, particularly Coat of Many Colors.
If you don’t know it, give it a bash it’s a great song 🎶🎶
At 13, she performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Johnny Cash introduced her that night and encouraged her to trust her instincts and be herself. Imagine being thirteen years old and walking onto that stage.
She wrote “I Will Always Love You” in a remarkably personal moment, when she was leaving Porter Wagoner and knew their professional partnership had to end. Instead of turning the song into an angry goodbye, she turned it into gratitude.
After the devastating 2016 Tennessee wildfires, she created the My People Fund which helped families who had lost everything.
She never had children of her own, but became “Aunt Dolly” to generations of people. Her goddaughter Miley Cyrus is perhaps the most famous example however, Dolly has always spoken about having a special affection for children and young people finding their way.
Perhaps our favourite fact about Dolly’s life is that her father regarded the Imagination Library as more important than her becoming a star.
Dolly remembered how proud he was when children started calling her “The Book Lady.”
This is a massive part of Dolly’s real legacy. She understood something many often dont whilst here on earth… it’s better to give than to receive✨
Dolly Parton become enormously successful and famous through sheer determination and focus, She turned her success into books, scholarships, jobs, medical research, disaster relief and opportunities for people she would probably never meet.
That is a hell of a life and aren’t we all the richer for having humans like Dolly share our world ❤️
Good night Dolly, we will see you at the great gig in the sky …
