Remembering Dolly Parton: More Than a Country Music Legend

The weather elves insist it’s a coincidence, and I guess we’re obliged to believe them. If it’s a coincidence, it’s a Major League one.

Tropical Storm Dolly is heading toward the southern United States, though facing an uncertain future thanks to wind shear, dry air, and other things that hobble Atlantic storms. The name, the elves tell us, was chosen and put into a rotation long ago. It’s in no way intended as a kind of meteorological tribute to the recently departed Dolly Parton, a storm in her own right, and a much more appealing one.

Here in Central Florida where I am, I’m not too concerned about the Dolly heading in my direction across the Atlantic. But like millions of others, here and abroad, I’m trying to get adjusted to living in a world without the bright light that was Dolly Parton. This will take a while, and it won’t be easy. Even Jolene probably misses her.

Summing it all up, it’s hard to think of anyone more entitled to be called America’s sweetheart than Dolly.

Happily we still have Dolly’s recorded music, so we can always enjoy her sweet and warm voice that can melt all but the hardest and most hopeless hearts. We also have her work on the big screen that can be visited any time. These will allow us to draw pleasure from her performing talent. But Dolly was so much more than musical and acting talent — on display at an energy level that made the Energizer Bunny seem a layabout by comparison. If kindness, generosity, and talent for friendship were Olympic events, this five-foot woman from Pittman Center, Tennessee (current population 454) would retire the gold.

This special woman not only demonstrated but lived those things that have made America special. Her rise from dirt poor Smokey Mountain beginnings to a long and highly successful music career as a singer and songwriter, her acting gigs, her remarkable business savvy, and her philanthropy have been much in the news this week. (No point in cataloging these by now well-known events again.) Can there be any clearer demonstration of the American dream?

Alas, I was never privileged to have met Dolly. But everyone who did so came away glad of the experience. Since her death Tuesday, there’ve been countless testimonials to these happy encounters with the personable, gracious, and unpretentious superstar. Please allow me to contribute one more. This tribute was not from a media star or some other kind of household name, but from a Tampa high school senior who had suffered more illness in her life up to that point than anyone should have to. Music helped her through those long hospital days and nights. Country music was her favorite, and Dolly her favorite singer.

Through a charity that grants children living with a life-threatening illness their fondest wish, this young woman — let’s call her Vicky (cuz that’s her name) — got to live her wish, which was to meet Dolly Parton. The experience was everything the young fan hoped it would be and more. I was privileged to do a feature story on this happy meet-up in 2000 for the late, great Tampa Tribune.

The meeting with Dolly took place at the Back Stage Café at Dollywood, Dolly’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Here’s how Vicky described the visit: “She was so wonderful. I wasn’t nervous waiting to see her. She makes you feel comfortable. Visiting with her was like talking to one of your friends you’ve known for years. There were other people waiting to see her. But she didn’t rush anyone. It wasn’t one of those ‘Hi, howya doing? and on to the next person things. She took her time with everyone. She’s just a down-to-earth sweet lady.”

I haven’t seen Vicky since our interview in 2000. I was happy to learn then that she had overcome the condition that was a mortal threat to her. I hope she’s now enjoying a healthy and prosperous life and still enjoying country music, though this week’s loss was surely a severe knock to her. Whatever her life’s duration or condition, it will be brightened by cherished memories of the visit that day in Pigeon Forge with her heroine, who more than lived up to expectations. There’s a cynical saying that one should never meet one’s heroes (or heroines), as disappointment is sure to follow. It would be a waste of time and breath to try to convince Vicky of this.

Vicky’s description of a gracious Dolly comports with the many others we’ve read. Many public figures spend lavishly on publicists to convince the world that their client is comprehensively warm and wonderful, even if the reality is a good deal less attractive than the picture painted. Dolly didn’t need this kind of help. Her own kind and generous behavior was all the publicity she needed. To all appearances the late Dolly was just as advertised. I try to avoid clichés. But in Dolly’s case one is almost obliged to say: “What you saw was what you got.”

Summing it all up, it’s hard to think of anyone more entitled to be called America’s sweetheart than Dolly. (Dolly was and remains one of our one-name people. Say Dolly and there’s no doubt about who’s being referred to.) Her loss is incalculable, but her place in America’s heart will endure. What great luck that she came our way.

RIP Dolly Parton, a great American.

READ MORE from Larry Thornberry:

Don’t Panic Over Democratic Socialism

When Newspapers Ruled Morning and Evening

Futbol: The Beautiful Game, Allegedly