Dolly Parton’s greatest, most remarkable gift

One of the perils of getting older is you watch people you grew up with leave. 

While this obviously applies to family and friends, it also applies to people you admire. Perhaps you read their books until the covers fell off. Or you watched them on the screen so many times that you wore out your VHS tape. Or you listened to their best album until your CD would skip in the middle of your favourite song.

When the world said goodbye to Dolly Parton last week, I was surprised how sad I was about it. I’ve never been a particular fan of country music, although her songs sometimes spanned genres. I’ve watched Steel Magnolias and 9 to 5 and enjoyed them, but only once.

It was her charitable works that I really mourned. Not that they’ll stop in her absence – the Dollywood Foundation of Canada will continue to send books to young children for free, one of the greatest things you can do for a child. 

But perhaps it was the one thing she did that cost no money and is the easiest way you can help people – and that was to fiercely accept people for who they are, including herself.

Dolly was a genius. She wrote thousands of songs, some of which live among the most beautiful music ever written. She played anywhere from seven to 20 instruments (depending on whom you believe), even her acrylic nails. She was nominated for 55 Grammys and won 11. She was nominated for two Oscars and took home one.  Her songs were covered by others and broke records. She wrote books and starred in hit movies.

And yet, when she died, the first thing people talked about was the numerous ways she helped others. 

To me, that is mind-boggling in a system that rewards and admires monetary success above all else. 

Clever, kind and witty, she used her fame and her fortune to bless everyone else.  

Dolly was a genuine light in dark times and proof that it’s possible to live a life in which, when you die, everyone mourns.

I can’t think of a better way to leave.

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