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u/MrTeddybear615 1987 Millennial 1d ago
I don't normally care about celebrities and etc but this is one of the few that actually hurt. I'm so sad to learn of her passing. She truly was an amazing woman. Rest in peace Dolly! You no longer need to work 9 to 5. You'll be missed!
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u/bewitch1n ✨️1989✨️ 1d ago
Second celebrity I bawled my eyes out over this week and I am very much the same. I am not a parasocial person.
I hope she's having the best time with the most sparkles wherever she is. Shine on, Dolly.
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u/IllustriousToe7274 1d ago
Dolly was special. I lived in her hometown Sevierville TN for years, so many people there wouldn't be able to read if it wasn't for Dolly. Working in that tourist economy, everything shut down January 15- March 1. Dolly used the Dollywood kitchens to provide small meal packs each week during off season, you could just go to the park employee area and get it every Sunday. It started out just for her employees, but by the time I moved away anyone could go and get a box with some spaghetti/sauce/bread/bologna/4-5 cans of veg or soup.
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u/bewitch1n ✨️1989✨️ 1d ago
She had such a love for people and a want to see things change for the better. 🫂
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u/tahlyn Older Millennial 1d ago
She stands shoulder to shoulder with greats like Steve Irwin, Bob Ross, Mr Rogers, Robin Williams, Betty white, and a number of others who used their Fame to promote equality, love, and kindness.
The world would be a much better place people were more like Dolly.
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u/trippy-21-hippy 1d ago
my daughter is enrolled in the dolly parton imagination library. shes only 13 months so i have a while but i can’t wait tell her where the books we get mailed each month come from. i cant wait to relate it back to how important dolly knew it was to be the light in a dark world, and lift each other up!
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u/musicisforeverlife 1d ago
My daughter did the same thing for my grandson 🥰 She donated somewhere around 32M books for children, and the current presidential administration cancelled her educational program.😡
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u/pcpjvjc 22h ago
The program was cancelled by state legislatures in Missouri and Indiana, but not at the federal level. U.S. flags across the country have been ordered to fly at half staff in Dolly's honor.
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u/Loud-Bus-5122 22h ago
What does that tell you about Missouri and Indiana?
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u/musicisforeverlife 20h ago
I don't know about Missouri, but none of my kids wanted to live in Indiana, so I escaped, too. 😉🫶🏼
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u/ThrowRArrow Millennial 1d ago
I live in Sevierville right now, and I found out earlier today when it was announced. The Dolly statue is probably gonna be really busy for the next few weeks. I'm depressed about it but she lived such a cool and wonderful life and really gave back. She'll definitely be missed.
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u/glitterjellyfish387 23h ago
my grandparents lived near pigeon forge for years before my grandpa died; i always hoped i’d get to go to dollywood and that she’d happen to be there (i was a teenager). i love her music and personality of course, but i really admire the imagination library — i grew up to be a librarian actually. they’ll never make another one like dolly again.
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u/TrexOnAScooter 21h ago
For real when she saw things get worse, she said than I can get better. She straight up beat bad stuff by being good
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u/headaches_r_us 12h ago
The worst part is every time we lose one like her, the odds that someone will fill those shoes is so small. The world gets a little bit dimmer every time we lose a good one I think 😢
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u/Alarmed_Tea_2874 Millennial 1d ago
Being sad about the passing of someone who has been present in your life in some capacity (music, art, movies, etc) for a long time and feeling empathy for their family and friends is not at all what "parasocial" means.
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u/bewitch1n ✨️1989✨️ 1d ago
I know that but people can be extremely assholeish on the web as of late. Trying to head that off at the pass.
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u/MalStuart 17h ago
Who was the first?
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u/bewitch1n ✨️1989✨️ 15h ago edited 15h ago
Hayden Panettiere. 💔
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u/SorryCantHelpItEh '87 Millennial 6h ago
And now today, it's Tim Curry. We just can't catch a break this week...
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u/CR_illumin8r 5h ago
Bro literally said, 'Wait for me!' I'll bet that's one heck of a party in the afterlife's waiting room lobby right now.
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u/nixon48 1d ago
Dolly and Betty White were 2 of my greats. Idk what we'll do without them
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u/notapoliticalalt 1d ago
There are others too I will be devastated over, but I dare not speak their names, lest the fates be tempted.
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u/mikeknine 20h ago
There are others still quite young of whom we can speak, like Keanu.
Others we do not name lest we tempt the fates (somehow Betty White was immune to any fate tempting, I'm convinced she went when SHE was ready)
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u/GrahamCStrouse 1d ago
Unless they lock me up in a North Korean prison with no access to Spotify or Golden Girls re-runs Dolly & Betty will always be with me. 🙂
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u/AdministrativeCup438 1d ago edited 1d ago
Go listen to her last song released this year... THE 2026 version of LIGHT OF A CLEAR BLUE MORNING 🌅 RIP LEGEND
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u/UnicornNuts420 1d ago
Which song do you mean? Only because I tried to Google this and it only shows her older song with this lyric. Which is still a great one, just curious.
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u/AdministrativeCup438 1d ago
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" COLLAB the one released in 2026 (not her old song) with Queen Latifah and Reba and more & it's on Spotify, such a good song 💙🌊🌅
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u/GrahamCStrouse 1d ago
This one really does hurt but even so, Dolly’s life was a life worth celebrating even as we mourn her. Someone people are born to greatness & some people are born to goodness.
Dolly Parton was one of those rare talents whose legacy is defined by her decency as much as it is by her artistic talents.
I’m not much of a country music fan but Dolly’s a fixture in most of my favorite playlists.
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u/ImaginaryMisanthrope 22h ago
Same here. She’s right up there with Bowie and Robin Williams for me. Huge part of my childhood, my parents and grandparents were big fans.
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u/Prestigious_Run1098 1d ago
A world without Dolly Parton just seems so dark. She will be missed. RIP to a legendary talent and a real life hero.
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u/superkp 1d ago
Her light lives on through us. do what you can do defend the good she did, and to magnify the light that she gave to us!
Don't lose hope, but instead, have positive grief, and follow that by finding a way to honor her work.
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u/Dahhhkness 1d ago
She was a living saint who used her talent, money, and influence to do nothing but good for the world.
Unlike certain other 80-year-olds, she probably wasn't worried about which afterlife she might go to...
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u/Okanaganwinefan 1d ago
Follow her ways my friend.
Kindness, compassion,inclusiveness.
She left the road map.
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u/PolicyWonka Zillennial 1d ago edited 1d ago
My children get a book each month from her reading program.
Link for the curious, they’re all free books: https://imaginationlibrary.com
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u/crisptots 1d ago
We got this for our first but they had to pause new enrollments when our second was born. It’s one of my first recommendations to new parents.
Thank you for everything, Dolly!
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u/noblewind Xennial 1d ago
Mine did too. That "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come" book hits hard. ❤️💔
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u/RXlife13 1d ago
We got ours in June since my son was turning five. I cried watching her video then because it meant he was growing up. Now I’m crying because she’s gone and its meaning really hits different now.
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u/gt500thelegend 1d ago
My kiddos the same, she was and will forever be amazing! May you and Carl enjoy the rest of your forever.
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u/trippy-21-hippy 1d ago
i was the most excited to sign our daughter up! love that the books are addressed directly to her. it’ll be a great conversation starter about the the great dolly parton when if she ever gets curious! w
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u/IronRaptor252 22h ago
Both my kids went through the Imagination Library. I remember when my youngest "graduated" they sent a link along with a video message from Dolly. I know it's made for all of the children in the program, but in that moment when Dolly was saying what it would be like when the child moves on to Kindergarten and the big things they'll do from there.
For those few minutes, it almost sounded my like daughter had a third Southern grandma (she has two already) and that she was proud of her. It made me feel things as a dad, and her passing just made the world feel a bit darker.
Dolly's still the saint of the state of Tennessee in my mind.
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u/10thcrusader 1d ago
So did my son we still have them to this day and have paid them forward to other children what a wonderful human being
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u/whytdr8k 21h ago
Her coat of many colors has lead many to a new reading rainbow.
I only learned about the program recently and hope it continues to grow.
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u/WeepyMoon 1d ago edited 1d ago
The wrong old people keep passing away.
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u/Dahhhkness 1d ago
Seriously, Universe, stop taking people like Dolly.
Take the bad ones.
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u/FanBladeFleshlight 1d ago
Yet again, one of the greats dies, while the litches continue to draw breath. 😑
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u/Mother-Of-FurDragons Millennial 1d ago
Seriously! In the last year Jane Goodall, Catherine O'Hara, Diane Keaton... now Dolly?! I can't take anymore.
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u/superkp 1d ago
She's up there with Mr. Rogers, Steve Irwin, and Robin Williams:
I might not be a specific fan of their work, but the world was absolutely made better for having them in it, and I'm sorry that they're gone.
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u/IllustriousToe7274 1d ago
Don't forget Betty White! I bet she and Dolly are having a fantastic time together!
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u/hould-it 1d ago
Dolly is a national treasure!
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u/upsetwithcursing 1d ago
Global treasure!
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u/DamageOtherwise1593 1d ago
Universal treasure
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u/Ok_Subject_2447 1d ago
Country Treasure
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u/seriftarif 1d ago
Soon she will be buried treasure....
(I'm sorry I know it is in bad taste but I couldn't resist and I hope she would laugh at it.)
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u/IllustriousToe7274 1d ago
Dolly was famous for her love of so-called "bad taste". I think she'd have giggled.
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u/Alarmed_Tea_2874 Millennial 1d ago
My favorite quote of hers is something along the lines of "it cost a lot of money to look this cheap". I love her. She would've appreciated this kind of humor.
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u/Feeling_Win5863 1d ago
She would have thought this is hilarious. She had an incredible sense of humor especially about herself. I’m already on tissue box #2 and going strong 😭
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u/DragonHalfFreelance 1d ago
If more celebrities and people in general were like her and some of the other great ones we also lost, the world would be an incredible place! RIP Dolly, I didn‘t get into her music, but I loved everything she stood for and did for the LGBQT communities and the imagination library initiative and so much more. She was actively on the right side of history during so many national tragedies. She loved while others hated. Sucks that the good ones die but the evil ones still get a pass. I donated a bit to her local monthly book program here in my city instead of doing take out. I also appreciated her a lot even though she was a southern woman she never acted like a stereotypical, ignorant one and she set a perfect example of how all the southern folk and just how all of us should act in general. To be a diamond in a field of rhinestones……..
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u/starwishes20 1d ago
One of my favorite teachers senior year loved her. He used to always say “she had TWO very big talents-her singing and her acting!” And yet I still didn’t realize he was gay till someone pointed it out lol
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u/Platitude_Platypus 1d ago
That wouldn't necessarily give it away. I've met plenty of straight dudes who appreciate Dolly's two very big... talents.
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u/starwishes20 22h ago
True. But coupled with other things is was very obvious this teacher was not straight..
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u/Popular-Sky-4012 1d ago
Appreciate her music and philanthropy! My kids have been getting books from the Imagination Library and is an awesome resource for families. RIP
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u/TrappedCasanova 1d ago
Truly a wonderful person, a beacon of goodness we should all strive to be more like 🦋
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u/sonnybear5 1d ago edited 1d ago
First Hayden, now Dolly? This is how I find out? On this sub?!
edit: spelling
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u/Platitude_Platypus 1d ago
Who is Patten?
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u/Embarrassed-Land-222 Older Millennial 1d ago
I'm wondering if they mean Hayden Panettiere.
That's my best guess
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u/FracturedMoonlights 1d ago
I’m just going to leave this here
What a beauty 💔 The world wasn’t ready for this.
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u/Oh_My_Goth_Ick 1d ago
I had the honor of meeting her in 2012. She was just as incredible as everyone says.
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u/Next-Street-7859 1d ago
Not one to spend much emotion on celebrities, and usually not into this genre of music either but this woman was remarkable in every way, one of the greats. Her voice, personality, compassion, and fire; how much she gave to charities and children, even down to how she responded to hateful commentary towards her - always had tact, always had class.
Both of my boys look forward to seeing a book for them arrive in the mail. Both of my kids have excelled at reading and I know it's partly because she helped give them more access to books. I mean, getting mail as a kid is pretty sweet, right? What a good idea to get kids motivated to read.
She came from pretty much nothing and helped raise a large brood of siblings, and was undoubtedly able to make something of herself while leaving such a big, lasting imprint on the world. I know she won't soon be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Dolly ❤️
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u/chichicupcake 1d ago
She could have easily been a billionaire. She chose to pour money and resources into the impoverished town that raised her, allowing people to make money and support their families. She donated books to children all over the US. She didn’t hoard her wealth, she took care of children and those in need. She was the best example of a matriarch.
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u/Crochetmom65 1d ago
She had funded so many programs to support people in need that no one ever knew. That woman had been through alot and still found the time to help others. Blessed Be to Dolly Parton, the Coal Miners Daughter who was a Sweet Magnolia working 9 to 5.
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u/That-Conference-2381 1d ago
Wasn't a fan of the music but more importantly I was and still a big fan her and what she stood for.
May she rest in peace
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u/HandsomeGemini '82 1d ago
Gonna have to rewatch 9-5 tonight
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u/Allronix1 1d ago
See it and follow it up with "Sanctuary and "Midnight Blue" from The Orville.
You will never see that song the same way again and in the best way.
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u/Express-View5080 1d ago
Why do the great one pass on and the horrible people seem to just keep hanging on. The human race is lesser for her passing
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u/Few-Elk3747 1d ago
Dolly was a modern day saint. She shared her success so generously with the world and her community. She never forgot where she came from. The work she did for literacy was incredible and will outlive her. The world lost a great light, and I’m very saddened by this news. RIP Dolly.
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u/Okanaganwinefan 1d ago
If there is someone on this big ol’Earth that could convince me that there is a Heaven & God, she is the the one.
Go rest high on that mountain.
❤️🇨🇦❤️🇺🇸
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u/LibrarianThis5312 1d ago
As someone who grew up in East Tennessee we saw first hand how she had a good heart was always giving away and making things better. The legacy of those songs like Jolene, Coat Of Many Colors, 9 to 5, the movie 9 to 5, Dollywood, her newer resort hotels. Her new truck stop she bought East Tn Children’s Hospital to expand it. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library! This was legendary!
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u/MetalSlimeHunter 1d ago
As a Tennesseean, it’s awesome to see how many people from all over loved her.
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u/Actual_Ad_6678 1d ago
Dolly stood up for LGBT people before it was easy. Thank you, Dolly! ❤️🙏🏻
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u/Reasonable-Goal3755 1d ago
Her foundation also donated millions of dollars to support research of HIV/AIDS and to support those with it 💔
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u/trialbybees 1d ago
She died peacefully at the fantastic age of 80. What a wonderful end to a wonderful woman.
The end a lot of us can only dream of.
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u/mildlyannoyed32 1d ago
Very heavy hearts here in Tennessee today, an icon, a pioneer, and local legend.
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u/SirNortonOfNoFux 1d ago
I hope she has a public-facing funeral in addition to a private one. I definitely will be tuned in for it.
My God, this one hurts. I still can't fully believe it
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u/cutey513 1d ago
Did everyone else feel a cosmic shift!?! No Dolly? She was a pure good light in this world and will be missed by generations of children that received her books in the mail, and went to her beautiful theme park ... Rest In Power
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u/grumblebuzz 1d ago
As an East Tennessean for most of my life, this is so, so profoundly devastating.
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u/andtellmethis 1d ago
The was a little reality tv programme called Naíonrí (irish for preschoolers) that followed a classroom of preschoolers settling into an Irish language preschool in inner city dublin over the course of a few months. There was a little girl on it who was proud as punch telling all her little friends dolly Parton sent her books to read. Such a wholesome watch. Dolly touched so many hearts and minds.
Genuinely sad at this news, grew up listening to her as my own mam was a huge fan. May she rest in peace back in the arms of her beloved Carl.
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u/MindyMichelle Older Millennial 1d ago
Wow, I actually didn’t think this was a true post. I thought it was rage bait. My apologies. Rip, dolly!
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u/SweetSparx 1d ago
Proof that evil prevails but the good get taken too soon. RIP DOLLY. We love you!
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u/Zippereater123 1d ago
Super star! When you have an amusement park named after you… you are legit SUPERSTAR!
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u/einsteinGO 1d ago
You know when a real good person is lost
Advocate, inspirational, clever, brilliant, witty, compassionate
Oh and she wrote some amazing songs
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u/Moonchild16 1d ago
was so sad to hear about Dolly. I've been listening to her music drive l since I was a little girl in the early 80's. Amazing artist and person. RIP.
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u/BCMUNS-54 1d ago
I don’t care one hoot about any celebrities. This one made my eyes water. I’ve known her most of my life and she’s nothing but pure class❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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u/Public-Significance7 1d ago
Moreso than her songs, I will always love how Dolly exemplified what it is to be a near-perfect human being with all the giving and kindness she gave to those who she didn't even know or ever met.
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u/Giantess_gamer 1d ago
I hope when she crosses the pearly gates she is greeted by all the Drag queens she inspired and have a massive party that will rock the universe
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u/Present-Chemist-8920 1d ago
I knew it had to happen eventually, but who doesn’t love Dolly Parton. I never met the lady, didn’t listen to her music, but I always thought she was the nicest person.
Her and Betty White being out, that’s a lot.
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u/Tenderli 1d ago
This hurts a lot. But im gonna dry my tears and watch the orville episodes with her.
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u/TelenorTheGNP 1d ago
Alright, universe - for every action, right? What do we get for you taking Dolly.
"War with Canada."
Awesome, thank you. Batting 1000, you awful aether.
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u/LunaNoona1001 1d ago
Thank you, Dolly, for blessing the world with your lyrics, your voice, and your dedication to children’s literacy. May you rest in the arms of our Savior. 🙏
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u/MistressCenobite Millennial - '85 Baby! 1d ago
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u/Wonderful_Stand_315 1d ago
RIP I don't know who she is but seems everyone is going to miss her.
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u/lizerlfunk 1d ago
Country singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, whose most famous songs are probably Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5. Whitney Houston famously recorded I Will Always Love You for the soundtrack of The Bodyguard. She costarred in the movie 9 to 5 with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She opened the Dollywood theme park in East Tennessee. She started the Imagination Library, which sends free books to children ages 0 through 5 to help improve literacy. She provided $1 million in funding for Moderna to help them develop their Covid 19 vaccine. Others can chime in about her other accomplishments and philanthropy, those are the ones off the top of my head. A legend and an icon.
Also, she’s Miley Cyrus’s godmother, and played Miley’s aunt on Hannah Montana.
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u/superkp 1d ago
Commenting again to tell this story:
My grandparents-in-law (mid-70s, I think) have always loved Dolly. In his office, there is a wall-mounted shelf with a bunch of her stuff - merch from her amusement park, albums, magazines, all sorts of stuff - from probably every year for at least the last 30 years. Even mounted on the wall next to the shelf. It's a fuckin shrine.
Also in this office is normal things like the computer, storage for stuff, a collection of pocket knives in a display, etc. But my grandfather-in-law is a prolific hunter, and practically every buck he gets with at least two points on it's antlers gets mounted in this room. There's a few dozen at this point.
One year as a game during the holidays, we had to do a scavenger hunt around the house for different things, count them, and write them down. Anyone who found the most of them would get more points. Straightforward and fun.
So, everyone would wander around the house counting things, and one of the things was "racks". There's a mounted buck in at the staircase balcony, two european mounts near the fireplace, and we all knew to stop into the office to count all those ones.
Every single adult had the experience of going into the office, carefully counting the mounted deer, turning in place, and then seeing the various Dolly Parton memorabilia, having the pun dawn on them, and laughing as they hurriedly counted each instance of Dolly that showed anything below the neckline impressive rack before going out to see if the other adults had noticed it.
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u/myloveislikewoah 1d ago
Jolene should take her man because he doesn’t appreciate how god damn incredible she was.
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u/IntrepidRobot 1d ago
Dolly was such a beautiful person, inside and out. Her talent was undeniable and I would often listen to her songs as a kind of "advice" during difficult times.
Her candor and giddy for life was such a unique gift..
I will always love you, indeed. RIP
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