When the passing of the iconic “Queen of Country” Dolly Parton was announced on Aug. 25, people of all walks of life shared their sympathies. From the Democratic Socialists of America hailing her a “hero of the working class” in an Instagram post, to United States president Donald J. Trump announcing that all flags would be lowered at half-mast in the week following her death — Parton was seemingly adored by people on both sides of the political spectrum.
It’s rare to see a star so universally loved. But despite the bipartisan nature of the public response to her passing, I believe Dolly Parton was anything but neutral when it came to political and social issues.
One aspect of Parton’s public persona and work that I always appreciated the most was that she showed us that femininity and intelligence are not opposing personality traits. I have always been a girly-girl, but growing up, there have been times where I’ve felt the need to hide that part of myself in order to be taken more seriously in work, school, or even just in conversation with friends and peers.
Decked out in her glittery outfits, Dolly Parton was witty, clever, and a dedicated philanthropist — she achieved her dreams and embraced her ambitions without ever compromising who she was. It was one of the many reasons that she was inspiring not just to me, but to women everywhere.
Not only did she spend almost the entirety of her career breaking barriers for women, she constantly used her fame to help people in need.
Parton invested a part of the royalties from Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” into an office complex in order to boost investment in a predominantly Black neighbourhood in Nashville, Tennessee.
Parton defended queer rights and was a staunch ally for the community on numerous occasions. In a July 1984 interview with Andy Warhol, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was fuelling anti-gay sentiment, she openly showed support for her queer fanbase. She also advocated for marriage equality in the United States, long before the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that cemented it as a constitutional right.
In 1988, a few years after her Dollywood Theme Park opened, she started the Dollywood Foundation with the aim of inspiring a love of learning for children in her home county. The foundation offers various scholarships, including the 1990s Buddy Program — any student who teamed up with a buddy and graduated high school together were each given $500 United States dollars. This initiative reportedly made student dropout rates in the area plummet from 35 per cent to only six percent.
And then there is the Imagination Library — the foundation Parton herself said was one of the things she was most proud of, and what I think is one of her most important achievements.
Inspired by her father who never learned to read or write, Parton started the book-gifting program in order to improve literacy rates. Once a month children are sent a free book for the first five years of their life. Since its inception, the Imagination Library has donated over 332 million books in five different countries.
The effect that the Imagination Library has had on children’s literacy rates around the world is remarkable. A study led by Dr. Claire Galea found that the program significantly improved the literacy rates of children within the program. It also showed these children were more likely to develop an interest in reading, and had a greater chance of success in education.
Dolly Parton wasn’t just a singer or actress, she was testament to the power of kindness. When other celebrities are reaching billionaire or even trillionaire status, Parton gave all that she could to help others. She gave so much of her vast wealth that she never gained billionaire status.
We didn’t just lose a celebrity, we lost a testament to the power of kindness. Her sparkly light will be missed.
