Goodbye, Dolly

[penpusher]

My Quora answer to a question because I want to preserve it here.





THe Amazing Dolly Parton

he question, as asked reads: Dolly Parton died at 80. Why did she refuse to get involved in politics despite repeated attempts to draw her into controversies?

The answer is quite simple. Dolly Parton knew that her audience of fans and followers consisted of people from every political spectrum. Being a Southern lady, she had a wealth of supporters from that region, and many of those people have a conservative lean. But she was also popular in places like Hollywood and New York, where a lot of people are more liberal minded. By not stating any political stance, she managed never to offend any of the people who appreciated and enjoyed her music, her humor, her personality and her performances.

BUT…

If you paid attention to what Dolly Parton DID… the things she supported, the help she gave to people who needed help at the moment she reached out, her interest in education and in giving kids the best starts available in life and in helping make kids feel like they mattered when maybe the message the world was giving those children was they did not… you really didn’t need to know her politics.

Dolly Parton’s actions always spoke loudly and clearly above her stated words.

Rest In Peace, Dolly Parton.

Comments

[halfshellvenus]

I'm not a fan of country music, but I appreciate her legacy and her stellar performance as a human being!

[penpusher]

The first time I heard of her was her crossover hit "Here You Come Again," which landed right smack in the middle of the Disco era. I guess that helped to give country music some legitimacy... along with "Rhinestone Cowboy," Glen Campbell's hit from a couple of years earlier.

But absolutely, her humanitarian efforts, her caring and her true desire to help people extended well beyond her genre of music.