Written by Allison Jarrell, MMM Founder and CEO
We’re all a little sad today. Dolly is gone, and she gave us an American treasure trove of music, philanthropy, and goodwill.
When I heard that Dolly Parton had passed away peacefully, my immediate thought was, “Oh no. What will we do without her?” My next thought was that I don’t think I’ve ever heard a single person say they didn’t like Dolly, even people who have no love for country music. She was an American icon, but she was also someone almost everyone could relate to in one way or another. Even if her music didn’t touch you, she still found a way into your heart.
I grew up listening to Dolly Parton. I specifically remember riding in the back of our vintage yellow station wagon with wood paneling on the sides, the windows down and music rolling on the wind. (This was before seatbelts were written into law.) My parents would play the popular easy-listening music of 70s radio, and Dolly frequented the airwaves. Her voice became part of the soundtrack of my childhood.
With a heart for both music and people, Dolly wrote some of the most beloved songs of all time, starred in blockbuster movies, built an amusement park, wrote children’s books, launched a library that has given hundreds of millions of books to children, held several Guinness World Records, and received more honors and awards than we can count. To top it all off, as if that were needed, she was a true humanitarian and philanthropist. I mean, let’s face it. I still want to be her when I grow up.
Dolly was a role model for so many people, not only because of what she accomplished, but because of the way she treated people along the way. The best way we can honor that kind of legacy is to keep the good stuff going. Keep making music. Keep helping people. Keep finding ways to bring a little more kindness and joy into the world. We’ve got this. For Dolly.
I keep a message from a fortune cookie on my desk beside my computer. It reads, “You will become a great philanthropist in your later years.” That is something I truly hope for. Now, every day when I look at that little message, I’ll think of Dolly Parton, her music, her goodwill toward people, and the legacy she leaves behind.
We appreciate you, Dolly. And we will always love you.