Dolly Parton R.I.P. A great and remarkable person

by Robert Reich - Aug 25

Friends,

I’m very sad to report the death of one of the people I’ve idolized since I was old enough to idolize anyone — Dolly Parton.

To me, Dolly Parton represented the very best in America. Her kindness, compassion, laughter, love of life, hardscrabble beginnings, humanity, ambition, and extraordinary talent were what this country is — or should be.

She connected Americans to one another, even during these dark times of Trumpian divisiveness. She sang everything from country to mountain bluegrass to disco-era pop — and always with an ebullience that radiated hope and courage.

But I think what I admired most was her empathy (the sentiment disparaged by Elon Musk. In fact, to my mind she was the human that embodied the exact opposite of Musk.) She felt the pain of those in poverty. She felt for women subordinated to patriarchy (“Down From Dover” and “Daddy Come Get Me”). She felt for working women (“Nine to Five”).

She was also a great philanthropist. Her Imagination Library has distributed more than 200 million books to babies and young children.

I could go on, but you know it all. You’ve been touched by her as well as I have. I’m so very sorry that she’s gone from us.

RR

She was a genuine doll

Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 User icon on August 25, 2026, 6:30 pm, in reply to "R.I.P. Dolly Parton at 80. "
ADMIN

Her legacy lives on and so will she through it.

You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

The world was a better place with her in it.

Posted by Skye User icon on August 25, 2026, 8:41 pm, in reply to "She was a genuine doll"
Valued Poster

Thankfully... hopefully, her legacy will endure.

Can't imagine anyone who didn't like her... a unifying presence that we need more of.

She sure seemed genuine and sincere.

Posted by Sia User icon on August 25, 2026, 7:15 pm, in reply to "She was a genuine doll"
ADMIN

Sad to see her go.

Posted by greenman User icon on August 25, 2026, 6:22 pm, in reply to "R.I.P. Dolly Parton at 80. "
Valued Poster

A great talent, self-made and inspirational to amazing numbers of other artists.

The passing of a generation beloved to me. But life goes on.

SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR!
RESIST!

Yeah, I felt an unexpected jolt when I saw the headline.

Posted by Sia User icon on August 25, 2026, 7:14 pm, in reply to "Sad to see her go."
ADMIN

Of course I don't know her. But she was so present in our culture, music, and TV shows that it felt like she was someone we all "knew".

I remember a Rolling Stone article once

Posted by greenman User icon on August 26, 2026, 8:57 am, in reply to "Yeah, I felt an unexpected jolt when I saw the headline. "
Valued Poster

..where the writer talked about her being at a fancy NYC record company party. Everyone there, some of the Stones, probably Dylan, a celebrity crowd. He just shook his head at how many ended up around Dolly, talking to her, laughing...he was like 'Jagger was a blushing schoolboy around Dolly Parton!'

She was real, I think, and smarter than some gave her credit for, too. Being real and staying that way in entertainment is hard.

SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR!
RESIST!

She was also very generous and kind. She gave plenty of money to

Posted by Sia User icon on August 26, 2026, 10:35 am, in reply to "I remember a Rolling Stone article once "
ADMIN

help others.

In fact, guaranteed a $1,000 monthly stipend to over 900 people who'd suffered losses as a result of a major weather event. She paid it for several months to help them all stay afloat waiting for insurance $$ while living away from their homes.

She donated a $million or more to Covid vaccine development.

She donated upwards of 300 million books to needy children across the globe.

And more.

She was down to earth, generous, and kind. A smart business woman too without resorting to taking advantage of anyone else.

Plus, she was smart enough to keep her politics to herself to avoid alienating anyone but lived an obviously "real Christian life" that put her values and concerns out there so that anyone interested could readily see where she stood without having to say anything.

Her Dollywood business also provides many well paying jobs for her employees.

Posted by Sia User icon on August 26, 2026, 1:00 pm, in reply to "She was also very generous and kind. She gave plenty of money to"
ADMIN

She was a savvy business person for sure.

Posted by Skye User icon on August 26, 2026, 1:26 pm, in reply to "Her Dollywood business also provides many well paying jobs for her employees."
Valued Poster

She was also talented and knew how to sell herself. She said once that she had the body of a woman and the mind of a man... meaning that she didn't let anyone take advantage of her financially. I think she managed her own finances, even though many tried to take advantage... she said something about her already having the money in the bank before they even knew what was happening. LOL The only thing 'not real' was her boobs and costumes, of course, but she was open about that, too, and that was her brand, which was very lucrative. But best of all, she was kind, generous, and enjoyed life, and never said a bad word about others. That's why everyone loved her.

That's sad. I didn't know she was ill.

Posted by Skye User icon on August 25, 2026, 6:01 pm, in reply to "R.I.P. Dolly Parton at 80. "
Valued Poster

There's no cause of death public yet as far as I know.

Posted by Sia User icon on August 25, 2026, 7:12 pm, in reply to "That's sad. I didn't know she was ill."
ADMIN

« Index

[ Civilized General Discussion Board ]

RETURN TO MESSAGE INDEX PAGE

Board Moderators are Sia, Pikes Peak 14115, Amadeus, Poppet and Trish