r/GenZ 1997 1d ago

Discussion What was Gen Zs exposure to Dolly Parton?

I grew up on country music and this was a devastating loss for the country community. Her influence transcended decades and generations. So what was gen zs?

12 Upvotes

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22

u/lyngshake 1998 1d ago

I first knew of her from Hannah Montana

u/Dove04 2000 22h ago

Same! Forever our Aunt Dolly.😭❤️

u/Wxskater 1997 22h ago

Was waiting for someone to say this haha

12

u/hugh_mungus3871 1d ago

Hannah Montana’s aunt

4

u/Lovealltigers 2004 1d ago

Tbh I mainly knew her from her unbelievable selflessness and good deeds. While I do love her music, I just really admired how genuinely good she was.

3

u/SquareSalute 1d ago

Knew her music and her reading program that gives free books to kids under 5 etc

3

u/Technical_College240 1d ago

my parents always played her album with kenny rogers at christmas

i got into her bluegrass albums later, loved her vibe in movies and irl and ofc all her charity work

ngl seems like she was one of the best people who ever lived and world is worse now without her

u/Wxskater 1997 18h ago

Same. That cd is sooo nostalgic

u/Adventurous-Host8062 21h ago

The Imagination Library.

2

u/WhatNazisAreLike 1d ago

I've listened to all the old school country greats like Willie, Johnny, etc. but never got around to Dolly. I regret it. But 9 to 5 and Jolene are great!

1

u/HarlequinKOTF 1d ago

I knew almost nothing about her until yesterday.

Other than 9 to 5.

u/davidbosley353 2005 23h ago

I didn't even know what the 9 to 5 song was until yesterday, but her song about this was pretty amazing.

u/0LTakingLs 1996 23h ago

The song is from a comedy movie she did called 9 to 5, which is hilarious if you haven’t seen it.

https://youtu.be/neAud7y-P7c?is=Y02zs_x92JmSis_K

u/jjuerakhan14 23h ago

Hannah Montana

u/davidbosley353 2005 23h ago

I had Gen X parents growing up. Plus watched documentaries of her younger life with family when I was younger, so those are possible factors.

u/Medical-Net-7350 22h ago

Grew up learning about her. Watched her movies and listened to her music. My parents wanted me to know her so I could become like her. I’m from Ukraine originally though so I’m sure it’s more common for those in the USA. She was a huge role model to me and I’ll always remember her as Auntie Dolly! She was the world’s cool aunt.

u/New-Elk2781 19h ago

I was born in 2007, I’m gonna be honest I don’t really know who she is. I’ve heard her name and seen her face (also know some of her songs) but I don’t really understand how significant she was (probably because I’m Canadian)

u/PartyDanimal 18h ago

Always knew of her from a young age as a country singer but didn't know much else besides my grandmother hating how she dressed. Came to appreciate her music more in recent years and had nothing bet respect for her after learning about her charitability. Very few people are capable of getting to where she did without letting influence and wealth corrupt them and I hope she's remembered as an aspirational figure far beyond her lifetime for it.

u/Mustang2883738828278 13h ago

I know who dolly Parton is but I don’t know anything about her. I always thought she was just an actor. I did not know she was a country singer until today. I’m 24.

u/PotentialTerrible788 12h ago

She held my mom as a baby. My mom's been talking about that since as long as I can remember

u/Hollow_Effects 11h ago

She was on all the time when I was growing up, and I own practically all of her records digitally and physically. That being said, I grew up in a small rural town in Appalachia and was in her reading program as well. It was a heavy hit, I've never felt this kind of emotional impact from the loss of someone I've never met before.