I’m sure you have all heard of the Appalachian Rules:
If you see something, no you didn’t.
If you hear something, no you didn’t.
If something whistles at you, you don’t whistle back.
We all know the rules of Appalachia and how important they are, but the most important rule of all is the rule of love. Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19, 1946, at the Pittman Center in Sevier County, Tennessee, to her parents Robert and Avie Lee Parton. Dolly was the fourth sibling in her family of twelve and grew up with just about nothing, other than her family’s love.
Dolly was always into fashion, big hair, tight clothes, and glitzy makeup, even when her Daddy didn’t approve. “ I’m not wearing makeup, Daddy! I’m wearing pokeberries!” Dolly wasn’t just about the looks; she had the talent too. Dolly started singing at the same time she started talking. Always singing hymns with her mother and making up her own songs with her brothers and sisters. When she was only ten years old, she started singing her original songs on the local radio shows and television channels, and at thirteen, she made her debut at The Grand Ole Opry.
Dolly went on to have a legendary music career for more than six decades. She starred on The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, which helped increase her stardom, and soon after, began her acting career. Dolly starred in several films and television shows such as Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, and my personal favorite, 9 to 5, with stellar lines like, “I’ll change your rooster to a hen with one shot, and don’t think I won’t do it!” Dolly went on to win ten Grammy awards throughout her whopping fifty-five nominations, had over one hundred million records sell out, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Not only did Dolly love to perform for the people, but she loved the people she performed for. Dolly was an avid philanthropist, donating much of her wealth to those in need, opening up the Imagination Library, and providing jobs and education to millions of people across the world. Dolly always prayed for enough to spare and plenty to share.
Overall, Dolly was a genuine treasure to this world. A woman who never held her nose up to anyone, who gifted money and prayer to whomever may have needed it. A supporter of literacy, education, LGBTQAI+, the rich, the poor, the sick, the needy, and everyone in between within her community. Unfortunately, Dolly passed away on August 5, 2026, gaining her butterfly wings and joining her late family members and her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away in March of 2025. Dolly always kept their marriage private, but just like how she loved everyone else, she loved him loudly and without reservation, even writing a song about “the red- headed hussy from the bank that tried to take my Carl, Jolene.” (Jolene, Dolly Parton 1973)
Check out some of Dolly’s greatest hits here!
Edited and Reviewed by Hailey Hutchison
