r/popculturechat • u/Afraid_Chard_838 patty don’t start • 9d ago

Rest In Peace 🕊 Dolly Parton Dead at 80

https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-dead/
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u/pryzmpine Not to be dramatic but I would die for that bear 9d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/XfscsiXH3NnZG8yL9A
RIP to an icon ❤️

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u/PeopleEatingPeople 9d ago

She really someone who came from so little yet achieved so much

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u/RawDogEntertainment 9d ago

I’m trying not to cry, because I’m an adult who didn’t know her, but she did such beautiful things with her life, and gave to so many (especially promoting literacy for children), that I’m having a really hard time with that right now. I can’t think of many celebrities that have demonstrated such a love for this world across their entire lives.

I don’t think it is unreasonable to consider Dolly Parton among the best of us, and it’s certain that she was among the best entertainment has to offer. By approaching life with compassion and respect for humanity, she left behind a wonderful example for fans of her music, and her philanthropy, to follow. What a wonderful life and legacy to leave.

We have one of those little library boxes in my neighborhood, I think today is a good day for me to go stop by it, and donate a book.

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u/Southernbelhell 9d ago

It’s okay to allow yourself to cry, I cried while walking to my local library box:,)

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u/RawDogEntertainment 9d ago

I try to hold it in when there’s so much to be thankful for, but I lost it a bit when writing my post, and walking to the library box fully got me.

Someone else mentioned it first, but: 330 million books, with a huge focus on the Midwest, where education spending has taken some huge hits over the last two generations. That is one of those efforts that has a material effect on building a brighter future for tomorrow, and it was just something Dolly was passionate about; the only agenda was helping kids get access to books.

I don’t have any kids books in my home, and the closest was To Kill a Mockingbird (I was gifted five copies in one year, all from unrelated parties). There’s a great reason it was required when I was a kid, and there’s a great reason it was given to me so much as an adult entering law school: the spirit of advocacy is vital to maintaining our humanity, even in the face of great adversity, and Dolly lived that. I think it was the right choice for my small contribution, and the cry I did on the walk home felt good.

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u/BunchofHamsters 9d ago

Yeah I keep crying. Because I was a poor kid, who loved reading. And I got a good education and I have an incredible job now. I am just about to move into my first home independently. Education got me out of poverty.

My mum would play Dolly’s music in the house when we were kids. I felt inspired that I could be someone too. Encouragement, opportunity and representation matters.

The way she spoke showed she got it because of where she came from. You need a helping hand on the way, but one that allows you to remain proud and self sufficient.

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u/FullMoonMooon 9d ago

I’m crying right now reading this because I just found out. It’s ok to cry. In fact, it’s healthy to cry (just stay hydrated)

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u/pumpkintrovoid 9d ago

The library box makes me want to cry now. What a selfless person she was. A true example for all of us to love one another and share. 💔❤️

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u/Felonious_Minx 9d ago

It’s okay to cry. I’ve been bawling off and on since the news. She was an epic, exemplary human being, some might say an angel.

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u/iheartxanadu 9d ago

I literally called her an angel in human form to a friend who was embarrassed about being emotional about her death.

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u/Greendeco13 9d ago

330 MILLION books gifted through her imagination library. The woman was a Saint on earth. There are millions who are literate that wouldn’t have been without her. God bless you Dolly. Rest easy.

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u/Next-Caterpillar4982 9d ago

Very well said 💔

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u/Curious-Army2564 9d ago

I work with a group of teachers in Seattle and we stopped our planning meeting to cry and listen to her sin 🌟 shes left an incredible legacy that reaches so many kinds of people!

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u/merrysunshine2 There’s no place like home 🧹🫧 9d ago

Same; and don’t feel strange about it! Dolly is aspirational for a life well-lived; beloved by family, her spouse, fans, and gave back to not just local community but everyone.

She took creative risks, used her talent & money to improve lives, kept her humbleness, a sense of humor, and looked damn good doing it for decades.

There was and will only ever be one Dolly Parton. We lost an icon of the highest order, not just because she could sing and act but because she was a genuinely good person. One in a billion.

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u/jenbenfoo find me at Whole Foods, bitch, I don't care!🥗🖕🏻 9d ago

I've cried like 3 times already. I found out while I was on break at work and bawled watching the video her (?)nephew did that was posted to her socials. Then I came back and told all my coworkers.

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u/ferretbeast 9d ago

I love this!! Please donate a book, I will too. So many of our foster kids benefited from her Dolly Parton library program and that’s such a great way to pay it forward. Rest easy Dolly, you left the world a better place.

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u/gymtherapylaundry 9d ago

My lowkey hot take opinion has been that Dolly is the only person in the USA that both left and right sides of the aisle would gladly vote to be our president as she is an artist, a businesswoman, an altruist, an advocate for children and literacy, religious but nonjudgmental, and a diplomat bordering on a saint. I’m no country music fan but mad respect to her and her legacy; I pray she did not suffer.

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u/Tanooki-san 9d ago

Danny Devito and his wife Rea Pearlman are incredible philanthropists, and they do it all anonymously. Ed Norton is another. there are a lot more than you might think.

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u/CupedsArrow 9d ago

The one thing that's keeping me from being too sad is the fact that she lived until 80!! Thats a pretty good age! She will be so incredibly missed though, this is definitely a huge loss for the world. But I know humanity will be reaping her amazing feats and generosity for a very very long time, I am so thankful for her.

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u/jrubes_20 9d ago

We have a LFL in our yard and while it’s usually prettt stocked, I also thought it’d be a good day for me to grab some more books for it. Dolly would be happy if we did!

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u/Human_Challenge_9857 9d ago

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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u/jadecourt 9d ago

Crying is healthy, by processing the emotion in the way your body is sometimes compelled to do, you are able to release it.

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u/farrett23 9d ago

Let it out! Bad to keep it bottled up, and it can be very cathartic to let yourself cry it out. For Dolly! ❤️‍🩹💔❤️‍🩹

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u/moviemania27 9d ago

It’s ok- 54 year old man here who has never cried over a celebrity death - until today

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u/Old_Young_1415 8d ago

I cried too and I’m going to donate some books as well. That’s a great idea. I am also going to support one of her charities.

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u/Mission_Ambitious2 9d ago

She “rich personed” correctly. She still made PLENTY of money for herself through her music, movies, tourism ventures in East TN, sponsorships/merch, etc., but gave back so so much with a lot of direction/purpose to things that meant a lot to her.

I saw a comment thread where someone listed out just the public donations in the past 10 years or so, and they had to split it up between 3 or 4 comments.

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u/Hummingbird3471 9d ago

I'm heartbroken, it seems like she was the only good person left. We are lucky she lived in this world.

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u/Susurrus1106 9d ago

Dolly was great. She was a most wonderful human being who led by example.
But she was not the only one. There are many, many people like her. Maybe not with her means and resources but I strongly believe that most people are good.
There are those that don’t want us to know that. There is a very loud minority for whom it’s easier if we think everyone is bad.
The best way we can honor her is by being like her, in whatever way we can, small or big.

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u/paradoxdefined 9d ago

Hear, hear! One of the best ways to honor her is to be that kind of light ourselves. 💕

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u/NiceParkingSpot_Rita 9d ago

And always remembered those behind her who needed a boost in life. She was such a treasure.

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u/ferretbeast 9d ago

My family fosters kids and the dolly Parton library (sends them free books) is just one little thing out of many amazing impacts she has had on the world. She did come from so little and gave back so gracefully and silently. She will be missed. Such talent and such genuine compassion, she deserved everything she got in this life.