R.I.P. Dolly Parton

“If you see someone without a smile, give ’em yours.” – Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean was born on January 19, 1946, in Pitman Center, Tennessee and died on August 25, 2026, in Nashville. During her 80 years on this planet, Dolly sure packed a whole lot of living!

Most people associate Dolly with her wildly successful music career that spanned six decades, during which she recorded 49 studio albums and wrote more than 3,000 songs. Among the hits she wrote or recorded were “Jolene”, “Islands in the Stream” (a duet with Kenny Rogers), “Coat of Many Colors”, “9 to 5”, and “I Will Always Love You”. Whitney Houston’s recording of “I Will Always Love You” became the best-selling single by a female vocalist ever. Altogether, Dolly sold more than 100 million records, making her one of the top recording artists of all-time.

As far as awards go, Dolly won 11 Grammys and three Emmys, and is tied with Reba McIntyre for the most #1 Billboard country singles with 25. Her 44 Top 10 country albums are the most by any artist.

But Dolly Parton wasn’t just a singer, she was also an accomplished actress who starred in such films as 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias. And, as most people know, Dolly was also an astute businesswoman. The Dollywood Company operates a theme park by the same name as well as the Splash Country waterpark, a dinner theater called Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and the Dream More Resort and Spa, all in Pigeon Forge TN. There are also Dolly Parton Stampedes in Branson MO and Myrtle Beach SC.

In 1988, Dolly launched the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation. Its first initiative was the Buddy Program, which offered $500 awards to students in Sevier County TN who graduated from high school. As a result, dropout rates fell from 35% to just 6%. Founded in 1995 to promote literacy, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails one book per month to each enrolled child from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten. To date, more than 100 million free books have been donated.

At the time of her death, Dolly was estimated to be worth $500 million and yet, it is believed that she gave away at least that much to various charitable causes including disaster relief, animal welfare, and medical research. She also provided free college tuition for Dollywood employees starting in 2022.

Faith was important to Dolly as was her marriage to Carl Dean. In 2011 she said they were "... really very proud of our marriage. It's the first for both of us. And the last." The couple renewed their vows in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2016.

I pray that Dolly’s faith was genuine because the heavenly choir can surely use her angelic voice.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President