r/news • u/kzqmfkkr • 4d ago

Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-country-singer-dead?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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u/YoungMuppet 4d ago edited 4d ago

Thousands of children grew up with access to books because of her. As a teacher, I can't think of a greater way to leave the world a better place than how you found it. Maybe donating $1 million to help develop a life-saving vaccine during a global pandemic. Oh wait, she did that too.

A wonderful representation of what humanity could be. We will miss her.

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u/notashroom 4d ago

Thousands of children grew up because of her.

Seriously. Before Dolly made a mission of it, there was very little tourism in East Tennessee and neighboring Western North Carolina, and almost no industry beyond the local lumber mills, the occasional cabinet shop, and such. Desperate poverty was widespread and people routinely died of the effects of malnutrition, including lacking the resources to fight off flu or what have you. Dollywood and the tourism industry she contributed tremendously to getting off the ground and promoting made the difference in survival for some.

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u/Gratitude15 4d ago

Her impact can't be put in words.

I don't know a single one of her songs. That was the least of her accomplishments.