An Open Apology To Dolly Parton
Dear Dolly,
I’ll be honest. I used to think you were a bimbo. I used to think you flaunted your big boobs, teased hair, tiny waist, and your syrupy-sweet southern accent to sell yourself and your brand as a country singer. Granted, I was raised in the Midwest and lived as an adult for many years in the Northeast. I didn’t get you, much less the South.
For example, I’d heard about your origins as a poor girl from the hills of East Tennessee, and when I learned you’d created a theme park in your native Sevier County I rolled my eyes. “Really, a theme park?” I thought. “As if rollercoasters will really help the people of rural Appalachia. Why not create something truly useful to give back to your community, like a library.”
Oh.
You have created a library, actually, and possibly in a bigger and more magical way than any brick structure filled with books could. And this is where my understanding of who you are really began to shift.
When I moved to Knoxville eight years ago I received a welcome letter from “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.” It informed me that Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among preschool children by mailing a specially selected book each month directly to any child under the age of 5. You had expanded it from Sevier County to my county, and if I had a preschool age child, it said, all I needed to do was sign her up and she would begin receiving books each month.
My daughter was not quite two then, and I can still see how her face lit up each time we pulled a book addressed to her out the mailbox every month. Several of them became her early childhood favorites, and are stored away should she have children of her own some day.
As a writer and editor, I’m a book hound and made sure my daughter has been exposed to reading at every turn. But you know better than anyone that not all kids have that privilege. I can’t imagine what a magical gift receiving a book every month must be for kids whose parents can’t afford to buy them or who don’t have easy access to a library. I quickly came to see the genius of your Imagination Library literacy program, and how you were making a difference in so many ways I never realized.
Your father was illiterate, which fueled your literacy passion. Now the Dolly Parton Imagination Library just surpassed gifting one million books to participating children around the world each month. To celebrate, your Dollywood Foundation randomly selected one of those children to receive a $30,000 college scholarship. Two-year-old Evey, from Conway, Arkansas, has no idea yet how fortunate she is, but her parents surely do.
But what finally brings me to this overdue apology is how I’ve seen you respond to the devastating wildfires that swept through your hometown communities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. At least 14 vibrant lives were taken tragically too soon, and thousands of buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed.
You made a public statement saying that you were heartbroken, while also expressing deep gratitude to the firefighters who protected Dollywood and evacuated everyone staying there to safety. Dollywood is the place I once dismissed, but now know is the largest employer in Sevier County and is the largest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee, hosting over 3 million guests a season. East Tennessee will count on that tourism to rebuild.
With the humble generosity and graciousness I’m learning is signature Dolly Parton, you’re not only planning a telethon to raise funds for the fire victims, but you’ve also created the My People Fund to provide, as you say, a “hand up to all those families who have lost everything in the fires.”
Those struggling families—and there are hundreds of them—will receive, thanks to you, $1,000 a month for 6 months. Countless stories detail how these families escaped with literally minutes to spare, and with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. And with each story, there’s a strong undercurrent of hope about how strangers helped one another and how this region is “mountain strong.” Your generosity both reflects and inspires this region’s spirit and resiliency.
Tonight, my daughter, who is now 9 and also loves to sing and act, has been using face paint to dress up as one of the DC comic heroines she and her friends admire. When she finished, she asked, “Hmmm, what other Superhero girl do I admire?”
I sat down next to her and said, “Let me tell you about Dolly.” In fact, I hope to take her to a Christmas show at Dollywood during this season of gratitude, and I’ll be making a donation to your My People Fund. I can’t imagine a more inspiring place to be, or a better way to support an amazing example of what it looks like to make the world a stronger place, starting with your own sweet community.
Dolly, I’m sorry I didn’t get you sooner—and I thank you for all you are, and all that you do.
Your biggest new fan,
Amy Rawe
_____
Read a Q&A with Amy about this post: An “Open Apology” Gone Viral
WBIR interview: Writer publishes heartfelt apology, thank you to Dolly Parton
Rawe-struck 
Reblogged this on Kittyinaz's Reblog Page.
We here in East Tn . Love Dolly, she is our Angel
Glad you finally “Got it”. I have always known of Dolly’s good works and I also knew of the imagination library. There is not a selfish bone in her body. She has always said, “what you see is what you get”. She is the epitome of a real southern woman who loves her family, her husband, her life and is not ashamed of where she came from. I am from West Virginia and yes, we do wear shoes, have teeth, do not inter-marry and some of us have a decent education and have held jobs so don’t believe everything you hear.
I have always loved to hear you sing and act.i also think what you are doing for the people of ur home town is wonderful. I am going to put on my list of lace to see this coming year is dolly wood and hope may be you maybe there.
We love you here in Australia Dolly and admire your generous spirit. Must admit that I have only just started to admire the woman behind the beautiful singing and wonderful lyrics.
Thank you Dolly not only for all you have done for your mountain family and community but what you have given to country music and entertainment AND always the lady. God bless and Happy Trails Shirley Byrd The Circle “S”
amen!
My daddy always said there were two things he loved about Dolly, but he never would tell me what they were . . .😜👙
To say Dolly isn’t smart is a huge mistake! She is quick witted, extremely beautiful and the I Q of Albert Einstein ! I was raised in Cosby Tennessee, very close to Dolly’s birthplace. I watched her on Cas Walkers tv show when she first started singing. I loved her then and I always will!!!!
Years ago I worked across from a woman who, verbally communicated that she “Hated Dolly Partin”. Years earlier she attended a concert Chataqua Park between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. I guess the show was quite late getting started. She explained that when Dolly and Porter Wagoner finally emerged from their trailer, her hair was a mess, blouse unbuttened……you know what I mean. Their big age difference. Lee often commented that she was “Bigger than Dolly”, which she probably was, being a large woman. Lee died years ago and I am quite sure that if she were around to see the great things Dolly has done with her being a famous celebrity, her opinion of Dolly would have changed and she would love and respect Dolly as the rest of the world does. I pray that maturity and life experiences show the same results with her beautiful, talented Goddaughter, Miley.
A lesson to be learned by everyone….and so fittingly….dont judge a book by its cover….I have always respected and admired you, Dolly.
Michele Gronert
The arrogance of the “enlightened” never ceases to amaze. Enjoy your crow madam
Infuse yourself with the spirit of the blog post, ER. Peace.
Have always thought Dolly Parton was a great lady, and love her singing! What she is doing for the fire victims is very commendable, but wouldn’t have expected anything different of her! God Bless you Dolly Parton!
Love Dolly always have. One upstanding citizen of the Usa
You must not watch tv.Dolly it’s an awesome person..I used to paint her houses she’s a very simple woman with a big heart
I am leaving a message for Dolly from my deceased sister, Ina Lynn Breeden .
She was beyond a fan , she seen several of your shows. She informed me years ago about you giving books to children. We had a picture of you Dolly on her friends side of the funeral home. No one loved you more.
God bless and take care of Dolly forever she will wear a crown in Glory for her extrodinary love for all people.
I always thought she was kinda hot?
“Don’t judge a book by its cover “…Dolly you are an inspiration! 👍
You got that right. It is nice to see all the people that decided Dolly was okay to live with the rest of the nice people.
Congratulations on finally having your eyes opened! Continue to step outside of your self-imposed cocoon, and you will find an entire world of individuals, culture, art, lifestyles, values, that are different than your own, but are touching lives, creating opportunities, giving back, helping others, and impacting this amazing universe. I grew up in Northeast Ohio and have never purchased country music of any kind, I have never been to DollyWood, and my children never received books from her. Even I am acquainted with her artistry. Even I know that Dolly’s hair and boobs were just a marketing and branding tool used by a talented musician, poet, story-teller, and an astute business person, with unlimited humility, an unstoppable work-ethic and a heart of gold.
What a WONDERFUL STORY!! Yes this is a CHALLENGE to me and Hopefully many More not to Condemn Others!!! Jesus does not allow or give any CONDEMNATION to ANYONE!! Read Romans 8:1, King James. I am so Grateful to Sister Rawe for this beautiful Story and I did not know of Dollies Pardon’s Imaginary Library! What a Beautiful gift to Children!! Thank you Dollies Pardon!!! Rev. Donald J. Herring, Tyler, Texas
2 important things – Love is only evident by actions and character is not a physical attribute.
Reblogged this on Author M. J. Flournoy and commented:
Dolly is quite the Southern Lady!
We have always loved our Dolly here in Georgia..
You are a beyond AWSOME human being Dolly Parton. I too didn’t get ya until I moved to the south and now I love you.
God bless you and your family this holiday season.
Merry Christmas❤
I have always loved Dolly. she has been a great inspiration and is such a beautiful lady
I have always loved Dolly. she has been a great inspiration and is such a beautiful lady
Here is another thing that Dolly does quietly and lovingly. I have been a foster parent for several years. Many times we have received a letter from Dollywood offering free admission for the children in our home. Just another way that Dolly makes the lives of those in need just a little happier. Wish there were more people like her in the world.
An amazing lady, Ive always loved her music. What a wonderful thing her library is doing to encourage children to read. We have a beautiful little great grandson who is 18 months old, my wife and I give him books for his birthday and christmas in the hope it will encourage him to read, his mum and dad are just the best , most beautiful parents in spite of , or maybe because of the fact that at 19 years old they are not that much older than him, they absolutely worship the ground he wobbles along on and read to him all the time. Is it possible to jointhe Dolly Parton Imagination Library for him from down here in Australia and if so how wouldwe do it ? As I said, we love Dolly’s music and wish her every success, We would also like to thank her for all she does for others, she is a beautiful lady that all Americans can be very proud of
Many years ago Michelle Duggar was asked why she was taking the family to Dollywood. Some people were aghast that she was exposing her children to a woman like Dolly Parton. Michelle Duggar replies “Why wouldn’t I? Dolly Parton has a big singing voice and a big heart for children’s charities.” Usually when I hear someone say “Dolly Parton” and “Big” it has nothing to do with her singing of worship songs or charities. From that day onward I started looking at people based on their accomplishments.
I have known and admired Dolly since her beginning career. But was especially drawn to her when my terminally ill granddaughter was granted an audience with Dolly thru the Make a While foundation. Dolly was her favourite singer. Though my granddaughter is gone now, I thank Dolly for being so kind and sweet to a child who was my first granddaughter.
my parents did a stint at a church camp in sevier co. they found out that dolly parton also finances music programs in the schools.
i really do not like HER music. but i admire her!
What an awesome person Dolly is and I love her new movies about her early years in Tennessee. She obviously was raise in a family that knew how to give and receive love and it is so second nature to Dolly that she just continues to pass it on to others. God bless and keep you, Dolly Parton.
“If ya can’t change your mind , you can’t change ANYTHING.”
Your awareness is a beautiful example of how I was transformed years ago by a stranger that picked me up hitchhiking.
A an older, scruffy looking guy, insisted on buying me breakfast after giving me a ride. I thanked him for his hospitality & he wished be a safe journey & said
“REMEMBER- The purpose of life,is to SEE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH,
Not to see through one another. ” I’ve never forgotten his face, September 1979 😉
Not sure why, but all the time’s for these post are way ahead of me? It’s 6:39 PM December 9th where I am.
Yes, Dolly Parton is a wonderful person from what I can see!!!
I have been a fan since Dolly ‘ s Porter Wagoner days. I have the albums , the tapes and the cds’. I’ve been to a live concert and have deemed her my idol. She is humble, giving and talented. No surprise to me that she would help the fire victims. God Bless you Dolly Parton💜👍
First of all, I usually bite my tongue, however your response has just appalled me. I feel that Dolly will forgive you no matter what! That is how true Christians treat each other. Your first words, ” I used to think you were a bimbo.” This statement almost turned me away from continuing to read your post. However , I feel that so much of our society is judgmental and there is only one judgement day for each of us through Jesus Christ . Empathy is understanding how others feel. I could write much more on my opinion of your revelation to Dolly’s intentions , but I am thankful for your understanding to her legacy.May God bless you to continued empathy to others before you judge.
Miss Dolly you have always been my favorite country singer…. I love your personality and your laugh…..you are such a wonderful inspiration to a lot of people with your wonderful caring heart….and your Christmas movie Coat of many colors tells your life it is a wonderful show…..you have touched so many people’s lives and changed their lives as well…..may you keep the way you are and God Bless You Dolly Parton I love you and Merry Christmas to you and your family
I’ve always enjoyed her music. I remember years ago when she was on the Johnny Carson show and told Johnny, “It cost a lot of money to look this cheap”. Anybody who can make fun of themselves is a class act.
Reblogged this on CRAIN'S COMMENTS and commented:
This tribute is appropriate. Ms. Parton sets a high standard for caring and social responsibility.
I get you you Dolly and I thank you for all you help!
I will always love you . God BLESS
Reblogged this on Mystical Mythical Metalwork and commented:
There are so many amazing people in this world, I just had to share.
Dolly is a blessing to many. God put her in a position to help others and she does with her music, time and finances. Thank you for this informative piece about her.
Sad to think how many never get beyond your hair and boobs, to your much bigger heart.
Your tribute to Dolly brought tears to my eyes. She really is an angel. I sure hope she has read it.
You are a remarkable person Dolly, and I admire the way that you have stepped up and decided to help all the people out in your home town area. I personally would like to say thank you.
she writes amazing books, and is very intelligent.
I love her.
Dolly brought tears to my eyes. She really is an angel. I sure hope she has read it. thank visit https://www.seoyandira.com
My grandson loves his Imagination Library books up in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. This wonderful program is more than a book a month in Alaska. The state adds funds and bills it as a “Get the Whole Community Involved in Reading to Kids” program with events at libraries in many towns. 38% of Alaska’s Under 5s receive Imagination Library books and this program has been used as a springboard to so much else to encourage community and literacy. Thank you, Dolly Parton!