By Randy Patterson, Boomerocity.com
For those of us in East Tennessee, Dolly Parton was never simply a superstar. She was ours.
The Sevierville native traveled about as far from her humble beginnings in the Smoky Mountains as anyone could possibly imagine, yet somehow she never seemed to leave them behind. No matter how famous she became, East Tennessee remained woven into her music, her humor, her faith, and her heart.
In 2017, I had the privilege of interviewing Dolly about the release of her first children’s album, I Believe in You. That conversation became the basis for my article about her in the November 2017 issue of Everything Knoxville.
Now, following Dolly’s passing, I went back to that interview and listened again to what she had to say. Nearly nine years later, her words hit differently. What began as a conversation about a new album was really a conversation about Dolly herself – her songwriting, childhood, parents, faith, dreams, and – perhaps most of all – her belief in giving back. “When you’re in a position to help, you definitely should help,” she said. “I’ve been so blessed in my life that I want to give back.”
Perhaps nowhere was that more evident than Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She told us she created the program in honor of her father, Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write. He became involved with the program and lived long enough to watch it grow. “He got such a kick out of seeing people call me the Book Lady,” recalled Dolly. She understood that literacy meant far more than words on a page. “If you can learn to read, you can educate yourself about any subject,” she said. “There’s a book on anything you want to know, but it’s not going to do you any good if you can’t read.”
Family was everywhere in our conversation. One of the most moving songs on I Believe in You was “Chemo Hero,” which was inspired by Dolly’s niece, Hannah Dennison, who developed leukemia at four years old. “When she was sick, I wrote ‘Chemo Hero’ and ‘Brave Little Soldier’ for her and about her,” said Dolly. She also gathered nieces, nephews, and Hannah’s friends into a recording studio to create songs Hannah could listen to while recuperating. That combination of creativity and compassion seemed to come naturally to Dolly. She credited both of her parents for much of who she became.
“I have my momma’s creativity and her spirituality, but I have my dad’s work ethic,” she said. “I’m proud to have a good part of them in me.”
Her faith was equally inseparable from her work. “My faith has played a part in every single thing that I do,” she said. Whenever she wrote a song, Dolly said she prayed that God would lead her toward something that would “glorify Him and uplift mankind somehow.” Yet the woman who accomplished seemingly everything never considered herself finished. “I wake up with new dreams every day,” she told us. That may be one of the lines from our conversation that stays with me most.
Dolly remembered the fear that accompanied leaving the mountains and pursuing a career in music. But she offered a simple explanation for how she overcame it: “My desire to do it was always greater than my fear.” Maybe that explains a great deal about Dolly Parton. The poor little girl from the mountains dreamed. Then she worked. She believed. She succeeded. And when success finally gave her the ability to help others, she gave. And gave. And gave some more.
In 2017, Dolly told us, “I’ve been so fortunate and lucky I got to do so many things.”
So were we. East Tennessee gave Dolly Parton to the world. But through her songs, generosity, faith, books placed into the hands of children, and the countless lives she touched, Dolly spent a lifetime giving herself right back.
For those who would like to honor Dolly’s memory in a way that continues something so close to her heart, consider supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Every contribution helps put books into the hands – and, just as Dolly hoped, into the hearts and imaginations – of children. To learn more about the program or to make a donation, visit ImaginationLibrary.com. To listen to this full interview, visit Boomerocity.com.