The renowned celebrity affected many lives by dreaming big and maintaining authenticity.
Layla Brown-Clark, Culture Writer
For decades, Dolly Parton gave her all in singing, acting and bringing joy to country and non-country fans alike through her contributions in music, film and philanthropy. Since her birth in the 1940s, Parton seemed destined to become a star as she was encouraged by her family to continue to pursue her creative works. Parton took this encouragement and continued to spread her influence to all until her death in August this year. Dubbed the “Queen of Country,” Parton is known as a singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, businesswoman and is renowned as one of the most successful performers in country music.
Before Parton rose to stardom, she was born on January 19, 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee on the outskirts of the Smoky Mountains. Parton was born as the fourth child in a twelve-children household in a one-bedroom cabin.
During her childhood, Parton discovered her love for music. It was at home where she constantly drew inspiration throughout her career. According to her biography, Parton and her siblings would make music together while listening to the Grand Ole Opry’s broadcast, and from an early age, Parton’s musical talent was evident and encouraged by her mother.
It wasn’t until her uncle, Bill Owens, who was also a songwriter, began chaperoning Dolly to and from Nashville,Tennessee to continue using her “God-given talents.” According to her timeline, the 1950s held many firsts for Parton. At 10, Parton began performing on local radio and television shows, leading up to her debut on the Grand Ole Opry in July 1959.
A few years later, Parton would make her big move to Nashville in June 1964 before securing her record deal with Monument Records in 1965. After the move and her record deal, Parton married Carl Thomas Dean in Ringgold, Georgia where they spent over six decades together. Dean’s support of Dolly’s career helped the two of them build an unshakeable foundation in their marriage while she was at home and away.
Her debut studio album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” made an impact on the country charts with her first two singles “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy.” The success of her debut secured her an invitation to join The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967. Between the late ’60s and early ’70s, Wagoner and Parton became one of country music’s leading duos, recording a dozen studio albums and top 10 hit singles.
After seven years on the show, Parton made the decision to leave and continue to chase her dreams she had since childhood. The departure caused friction between the two, inspiring the popular ballad, “I Will Always Love You.” This song would become well-known due to Whitney Houston’s rendition of the song for 1992’s “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, according to her biography.
Between 1974 and 1979, Parton continued her rise to superstardom. In her biography, it mentions how she toured all over the world, including stops in Europe, Australia and Asia, songs that managed to cross over to the pop and adult contemporary charts. It was within these years of superstardom when the Country Music Association awarded Parton with Female Vocalist of the Year in 1976 and then with Entertainer of the Year in 1978.
It was in the 1980s that Parton was able to add actress to her resume. She starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the film, “9 to 5.” The theme song of the film was an instant success and became an anthem for working women everywhere and also took the No. 1. spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the country charts and the AC charts. According to her biography, This film also opened Parton up to more iconic roles as she would continue to star in films like “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Rhinestone,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Straight Talk” and “Joyful Noise.”
Throughout the 80s, Parton continued to top the radio charts, but it was also here where her philanthropic efforts began. According to her biography, she donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education, healthcare and disaster relief. In 1988, Parton founded The Dollywood Foundation, which served residents in Eastern Tennessee by providing scholarships to keep students in school.
In 1995, the singer would go on to establish Imagination Library, a program that to date has donated upward of 300 million free books to children around the world from birth to age five. The library was inspired by her father, who never had the chance to learn how to read or write, and has fostered a love of reading in many children.
In the latter part of her career, Dolly saw her career skyrocket to new heights. She would continue to headline shows and receive awards for her music and contributions to society. It was no surprise her death affected the lives of the many she’d impacted from her industry counterparts to those who were fans of her as a musician and person.
According to ABC News, celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift and many others shared their sadness in her death and flooded with posts on social media in her honor.
“I will cherish our laughter and conversations and I will keep your wisdom, your playful outlook on life, and perfect sense of humor in my pocket for the rainy days,” Carpenter wrote in her Instagram post. “There will never be another you and how lucky we are to have experienced your singular magic as well as your once-in-a-lifetime voice, songs, and heart.”
Her co-star, Jane Fonda, also wrote a post dedicated to her as well.
“I am devastated … Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into our lives and hearts forever.”
Parton’s presence impacted the lives of many whether they were in the industry or outside of the industry. She will always be remembered for her contributions to music and beyond by all.
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