"Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope, and integrity into everything she touched," read the statement simply signed Team Dolly. "Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand. Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her earthly life at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones."
For more than 60 years, Parton was one of country music’s leading lights and one of music’s most revered songwriters. Including songs such as "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You," and "Coat of Many Colors," she also left a life filled with service, giving back in myriad ways. Parton, a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, placed 113 tunes on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart starting in 1967. Cumulatively, those songs spent more than 28 years on the chart.
"Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who had watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens," Seaver said. "She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history." Even in death, Parton displayed her trademark. Seavers added, "Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable."
I Just Give From My Heart’: How Dolly Parton’s Philanthropy Focused Most On Helping Children
In 1991, Dolly Parton made a startling offer to every seventh- and eighth-grade student in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she grew up. The world-famous singer would personally give them $500 each if they graduated high school. Dolly Parton’s philanthropy inspiration was her father, who couldn’t read or write: 'I saw how crippling that could be.' The children had to pick a buddy to hold each other accountable; if one didn’t graduate, the other wouldn’t get the cash. But the idea worked: the county’s high school dropout rate plummeted from 35% to 6%. This was the sort of practical, radical act of charity that Parton, nicknamed "St. Dolly," dedicated her life to trying out. By showing that all it took was the promise of $500 to incentivize kids to stay at school, Sevier County had to address the dropout rate (and it did). It is telling that the tributes shared after Parton’s death at 80 have been equally about her philanthropy and her music. There was so much of both. She told People in 2021: "I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving. Knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else."
DOLLY'S LEGACY
Dolly Parton was a country music legend known for timeless hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Dolly Parton was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, and grew up in a large family in the Smoky Mountains.
Dolly Parton built a career that spanned country music, pop culture, film, television, business and philanthropy.
Dolly Parton starred in beloved movies including “9 to 5,” “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library, a literacy program that provided free books to children around the world.
Obama, Bush, Clinton, And Trump Have All Paid Tribute To Dolly Parton
Presidents across party lines celebrated Dolly Parton on Tuesday following her death, speaking to the country icon’s ability to transcend politics through her work that often spoke louder than words.
On Tuesday, former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Bush each paid tribute to Parton, while President Donald Trump ordered that flags be flown at half-staff for the next week to honor “one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER.”
In their statements, the former presidents praised both Parton’s music and philanthropic endeavors. In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University, which helped fund coronavirus research and Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine. The legendary singer also famously founded the Imagination Library, established in honor of her father Robert Lee Parton Sr., which distributes books to children in multiple countries.
In a statement posted on social media, Obama highlighted Parton’s humble roots, colossal impact in music and Hollywood, and her philanthropic work. “It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton. Born in a one-room cabin, she earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of kids learn to read, and — as if that wasn’t enough — helped accelerate the research that led to the Moderna COVID vaccine,” Obama wrote. “What a life. Michelle and I are thinking of Dolly’s family and her many, many fans.”
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