There are some special people that transcend their given genre and are beloved by all.
Robin Williams, Fred Rogers, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Wavy Gravy come to mind.
Dolly Parton I believe tops that list.
Regardless of political ideology…. Democrat, Republican, Trumper, Bernie Bro.
A friend of mine once mused that she could win both the Democratic and Republican ticket at the same time.
I have met hardcore rockers, anti establishment punkers, anarchists and nihilists who gushed when her name came into the conversation.
She’s just…. righteous.
The reasons, beyond her wild talent and Spirit with a capital S, is so vast.
1988- Founded The Dollywood Foundation
Dolly was concerned that the drop out rates at her local schools of Sevier County, Tennessee was so high, and in an effort to decrease those rates, she initiated the Buddy Program, in which Dolly gave $500 to every Junior High student who finished high school.
Another $500 scholarship was offered to every student to who attended Hiwassee, the small local liberal arts college in Madisonville.
It was very successful, and the dropout rate declined from 35 to 6 percent.
And with this, The Dollywood Foundation was born.
1991- The Dollywood Bald Eagle Mountain Sanctuary
Dolly sponsored this passion of hers, by building a 30,000 foot aviary which has been managed by the American Eagle Foundation, which houses and shelters the largest number of bald eagles which can no longer survive in the wild, in the world.
Because of her efforts to help preserve our national bird, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded her their Partnership Award.
1995- The Imagination Library And Childhood Literacy Program
In honor of her father, Robert Lee, who never learned to read, as part of the Dollywood Foundation, she opened the Imagination Library.
Sending one book per month to each and every child in Sevier County, from birth through their first year of school, which comes out to about 60 books per child!
That dream began Dolly's Childhood Literacy Program, which has gifted over 184 million books to children across the U.S., The United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Australia. imaginationlibrary.com/…
She has become the face of Global Children’s Literacy.
2000- The Dolly Parton Sevier County Scholarship
Seeing the success of her initial scholarship, Dolly and the Foundation upped the game.
This $15,000 college scholarship is given to high school seniors in Sevier County to those who ‘have a dream they wish to pursue and who can successfully communicate their plan and commitment to realize their dreams.’
2007- Benefit Concert For New Hospital And Women’s Center
The concert itself raised $1 million, and they began to build a local hospital and cancer center. The LeConte Medical Center.
Opening in 2010, and its pièce de résistance is the 30,000-square-foot Dolly Parton Center for Women’s Services which runs the gamut including mammography, bone density exams and the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit.
And now…. a brief intermission.
2016- Tennessee Wildfires Concert And Telethon
Dolly saw the devastation the wildfires brought to her home, Sevier County, especially to Wears Valley and to Gatlinburg, and organized ‘The Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund,’ to aid those neighbors hardest hit, raising over $13 million.
“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have donated from all over the country and to my friends who donated their time, their talent, and money for My People. The response has been so overwhelming that we haven’t been able to count all of the donations yet; right now, in total, we have raised about $9 million for the folks who lost everything in Sevier County.”
2016- My People’s Fund
In a continuation of Dolly’s desire to continue her relief efforts, this fund provided $1,000 per month to families whose homes or businesses were destroyed.
$10 million was also donated to others in need affected by the fires.
My People’s Fund still helps residents pay for mortgages, rent, utilities, bills, food and emotional and mental health services.
2016- Imagination Library’s Special Merit Scholarship
To commemorate the library’s one millionth shipped book, a random tot, two year-old Evey Johns, whose family visited the physical library, received a $30,000 scholarship to college. ( It will grow to approx. $100,000 by the time Evey starts college.)
2017- Children’s Hospital Leukemia Donation
In memory and honor of her niece Hannah, who was treated for leukemia at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dolly donates $1 million, and awareness, to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
2020 Covid-19 Vaccine Research
To help fund Moderna vaccine research, Dolly donated $1 million, and awareness, to Vanderbilt University.
Remember, this was at a time of no vaccine, a high death rate, and she wanted to get ‘er done.
2021- Tennessee Flood Relief
Dolly and Loretta Lynn raise and donate $1 million to help those devastated by the flooding.
“After the Sevier County wildfires in 2016, Loretta was one of the first who reached out to offer anything she could. It meant so much to me that Loretta, and so many folks, were ready to give in any way they could. This was just one small way I could help Loretta’s people for all they did to help my people. I hope that this money can be put to good use to help the people of Middle Tennessee with what they need during their recovery.”
2022- Dollywood Company Education Coverage
The Dollywood Co. will cover 100% of tuition including all fees and books for any employee who chooses to further their education.
That includes all employees, be they full time, part time or seasonal.
University, college, community college, trade school.
It’s covered.
2022- Vanderbilt Pediatric Research
In honor of the higher than the national average of children from her home state afflicted with infectious diseases, Dolly Parton donates $1 million. and awareness, to Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Infectious Disease Department
That’s why.
And friends… this was only a partial and incomplete list.
( Many more very personal examples can be found in the comment thread. )
A few months back, to no surprise to anyone, she received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, chosen by the global Carnegie Institutions.
So, what new road will Dolly be travelling, and what is happening today?
Why today, Dolly will be inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame!
She was inducted by the Country and Gospel Hall of Fame’s of course many years ago, and she has been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on many occasions.
The last time, she turned it down.
“Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out. I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again, if I’m ever worthy.”
The Hall couldn't immediately honor her request, as voting was already underway.
Representatives from The Hall cited her version of Neil Young's ‘After The Gold Rush, with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, and her bluegrass rendition of Shine, both winning a Grammy.
And that in her career spanning six decades, recording close to 60 albums and having written nearly 3,000 songs, many of those songs covered by rockers who have won Grammys.
In the meantime, members of Metallica, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC encouraged her to accept the nomination.
By the time Dolly was indeed named an official nominee in May, she said she would "accept it gracefully."
And so she did.
“It was always my belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for people in rock music,” Parton told NPR. “I have found out lately it’s not necessarily that. But if they can’t go there to be recognized, where can they go? And so I felt like I was taking away from someone that maybe deserved it certainly more than me since I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there’s more to it than that.”
Other country icons have also been inducted thusly, including Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
And being true to her belief system, there’s one sure way to solidify her rock and roll laurels.
And that is to make a purely rock and roll album!
Says Dolly, "My husband is a huge rock and roll fan. And I'd always wanted to do an album. But I didn't have a reason to, until they said they were gonna put me in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
I intend to bring in a lot of the old rock and roll stars and do a lot of the classic rock songs."
Many have already offered their talent including members of AC/DC. (!)
What she really desires is to re-unite her friends from Led Zeppelin (!!)
www.nme.com/...
With legendary producer Steve Albini offering his services to produce the album, it seems that Parton is actually set to follow through with the project.
In a new interview with Pollstar, the legendary singer revealed that she wants to record a new cover of ‘Stairway To Heaven’ for the album, and to reunite Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in the process.
Parton had previously covered the iconic track on her 2002 bluegrass album ‘Halos & Horns’.
Asked if she was working on the rock’n’roll album, she said: “Well, I am. When I got nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it.’ I had always wanted to do it. My husband is a big hard rock ’n’ roll fan, and for years I thought, ‘One of these days I’d like to do an album mainly just for him, just to kind of do it.’
“When I got nominated, I thought, ‘Why not just go ahead and do it while the iron’s hot? Maybe have some of the greats, the legends of rock ‘n’ roll sing along with me.'”
Of her attempts to get Led Zeppelin back together, Parton added that her husband “did not like it” when she revealed plans to cover ‘Stairway To Heaven’, saying: “But I’m going to redo that really on the money. I did it kind of bluegrass-style when I did it; but when I do the rock album, I’m going to actually re-record it – and do it more true to the regular record. “I’m trying to see if Robert Plant might sing on it. Maybe Jimmy Page might do the pick-up part on it. I’m looking forward to dragging in some of the great classic people, girls and boys, to sing on some of the songs. I’m not far enough along to discuss who and what, but I am going to do an album.”
And though this is definitely off -track, since it has all the elements I enjoy… Michelle and Barack, Jack Black and of course, Led Zeppelin…. I’m following my muse.
Wrote the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
‘A living legend and a paragon of female empowerment, Parton is beloved not only for her prolific body of work, quintessential style, and philanthropic efforts, but for the humor, wit, and self-deprecating grace that shine through everything she does. Her crossover success broadened the audience for country music and expanded the horizons for countless artists who followed.’
Our world is a better and brighter place with Dolly.