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 
I have been a fan of Dolly’s for years and of her voice, her laughter her smile. She has a brilliant mind behind her beautiful face. Kudos to you for recognizing her beautiful spirit.
Dolly, always makes me smile.
Reblogged this on Random Thoughts and commented:
Though, I’m a fan of Dolly this is a letter to her.
All you folks commenting on how you would really love to go to Dollywood, Go! Plan your next vacation trip right now and swell their off season attendance. We just left that area the Saturday morning before the fire, had Turkey dinner with our daughter and son- in- law at Laurel Springs Resort, hiked up to Laurel Springs falls and now that whole forest area is ashes, and so is that end of Gatlinburg at the forest entrance. But Pigeon Forge isn’t and that is Dollywood, so help them people out. If you do go try to book at the resort we stayed at they aren’t any more expensive than a motel/hotel, in fact they are a lot less expensive.
Awesome thoughts from all this take of Dolly Fred!!!
Wow, how cool is that… 🙂
Amen. I Read her autobiography…that cinched my admiration for her as a generous, humble and generous individual. What she has pledged for her community is not surprising to me, but once again inspiring.
Dolly is sweet, personable and very smart. She knows her stuff from music to her PHD. Dolly is a huge inspiration to many of us. This made my heart smile seeing this.
An apology is sometimes a hard thing to do but is most respectful. I appreciate your honesty. It’s something not given too often these days.
I’ve always understood Dolly but never known the extent of her generosity for others
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Amy I am happy you have had this realization. She is so giving to her community. She is one of the reasons our family continues to visit Tennessee. Thank you for your thoughtful blog!
Thank you, Dolly, for responding to the fire in the great Smoky Mountains with such generosity and kindness. Although I don’t know you personally, I can see that your big heart is your greatest attribute. My parents were both born in the hills of Tennessee and we visited the Smokeys often as I grew up! I soon learned that your state has a history of helping its fellow men, generosity, and hospitality! It’s wonderful to know you are continuing in that proud tradition!
Dolly Parton is a wonderful, generous person and an enormously talented woman. I have been listening to her music since I was just a kid my self. I will continue to visit the mountains and listen to her beautiful music forever!! I lost my Big brother (Randy) when I was only 13 yrs old. I would listen to Dolly Parton’s Randy Take Me With You, and I Will Always Love You in his memory. In fact I still do to this day! Thank you Dolly Parton for EVERYTHING you do for ALL of us! Maybe one day, while I’m in Tennessee, I’ll be blessed enough to meet you. I’d love to thank you in person for yrs of your music that helped mend my broken heart!
She has a heart of gold. She looks after the people from the area she was born. I loved Dolly.
Thanks Dolly for EVERYTHING you do for ALL of us!
Every time I judge someone it comes back and smacks me so hard in the head it makes me cry on the inside. I think we can all learn a big lesson from this. It’s so easy to see the outside, we forget that we have a projected outside as well. Sometimes I wonder what people think about me, as I know I can be selfish and absorbed at times.
This beautifully written peace is a wonderful portrait of humanity at its best, thank you so much for being so open and honest.
I’ve been a fan of Dolly since she was on the Porter Wagner Show. Though Amy says she is Dolly’s biggest fan, I beg to differ! As a matter of fact, I’ve seen Dolly in concert so many times, I got a little miffed that she still didn’t recognize me at her concert in Houston Monday night! But I forgive her. Because I am Dollys biggest fan!
I have always loved Dolly and knew what kind of person she is and how humble and kind she is . I have also meet part of her siblings and they too are just down to earth people and as nice as can be. I have been to Dollywood every year since it has been Dollywood as a birthday gift to myself in December and numerous other times , the only year I didn’t go was the year her Mother passyaway out of respect for Dolly ands her family ( which was also on my birthday). She has always done great things for her family and her community. God Bless her and all those effected by the wildfires. I am from. Virginia
Better late than never, nice article and mea culpa. Appreciate your taking the time to set things right. It takes a big person to do a 180 like you did & admit it.
GROWING UP ME AND MY BUDDIES WOULD GIGGLE WHEN YOUR NAME WAS MENTIONED NATURALLY AND AS A ADULT I RESPECT YOUR GENUINE LOVE OF PEOPLE.IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED THESE DAYS AND ITS NICE TO HEAR YOU TALK OR SING TO PEOPLE BECAUSE IT COMES FROM YOUR HEART.I HOPE WHEN YOUR GONE THAT THIER IS THREE OF YOU LEFT BEHIND SO THAT THE GOOD SPIRIT YOU HAVE IS SHARED WITH GENERATIONS TO COME.
Always been a favorite, had tickets to see her once in Richmond Va and concert was cancelled. Visit The Smokey Mts often😊 Would love to sit and chat with her one day. I’m a retired teacher and I appreciate everything she does for others. For several years while teaching a mental health unit. I used her song “Coat of Many Colors” as a teaching example. Was a very successful addition to the unit😊
Dolly is the Real Deal, always has been, always will be. A Real Tennessean Volunteer
Amy.. that was truly a heartfelt apology.. to dolly p…
We tend miss judge and condemn those we think has it all.
It’s quite easy to do when we don’t know the real story of how they became wealthy…
I’m so glad you were able to see her for who she really is.. and take time to find out her story and understand her..
Great apology
WOW! What a tribute! It just goes to show how people shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. How ironic is that statement in this case?? My stepfather came from Chattanooga, TN, and he was in my life since I was 7 years old. It was this young “hillbilly” that brought this “AMAZING” Dolly to life for our family. I’ve enjoyed getting to know, love, and respect this woman from that point forward, and she continues to amaze me with her genuine caring spirit every time I read about her, or watch a performance! Dolly is the real thing, and her beauty shines for all to see, inside and out! Thank you for your tribute, and for your apology, in Dolly’s name.
I have admired Dolly my whole life. I grew up with her music. I grew up Greenville SC. I have family all over Tennessee, SC, and NC. My family visited the Smokies almost every year. We spent time in Cherokee. I have been going back to Gatlinburg to meet friends in the summer and love “going home”. Our favorite place to eat was The Alamo…it is gone. Our favorite hotel was Riverhouse Motor Lodge on River Rd. It is gone now…and the owners have lost that business as well as their timber business. We pray for those affected by the fires. We pray for those who are giving to help those affected by the fires.
I appreciate this loving tribute to Dolly. Keep giving get back, Dolly. You are blessing get to all of us…those who have met you, those who dream of meeting, and those who don’t know you at all. Let’s all pull together and bring Gatlinburg back to life. Let’s help those lovely families rebuild their lives.
God bless.
Dolly I have always loved you! Just love you more & more!
Aww…. Sweet
Wendy… I couldn’t say it any better
I love this letter. I love Dolly. To the writer of this, I get it. Growing up we didn’t have social media to “learn” about Tom, Dick, Harry and Dolly. We saw her and so many probably thought what you thought. I commend you on your apology. Hopefully, you will only kind words in return.
We are from Pittsburgh but love Tennesee and Dollywood so much that we have season passes! An 8-hour drive is so worth seeing why Dolly loves “home” so much! The area depends on tourists. They make you feel genuinely welcome. The food is amazing! The cost is minimal. You will be so glad you went!
Wow.. A very humbling letter, filled with love and honesty, which challenges each of us to reflect upon ourselves.
My family enjoyed the Dolly Christmas movie and gained a new insight into her life and humanity.
God bless all people who care for and raise up their fellow human beings.
May we all aspire to be better people.
Great comeback bari
Amy, Dolly has also supported The Sevierville hospital with donations over $ 1 million
Hi mrs parton you truly are a wonderful woman you deserve all the praise you get and some my mother raised me on your music she always loved you and said you were the greatest person in music your down to earth not like other famous people you have hart of gold I’m raising my grandson his mother lost 4children I just couldn’t let him go and he is 3and loves books and someone reading to him so what your doing is wonderful the lord will bless you how do you get books sent to you I and he would love to get books I can’t afford to buy them alot but I truly think your a god giving Angel signed Gary Mcnew
I grew up watching Dolly on TV. I am from a small town called Cookeville. I lived with my grand parents and brother. The Porter Wagoner show. I grew up in the warm and giving arms of my grandma and grandpa. Everyone shared what they had. I had no idea we were poor. We were rich in so many ways. I grew up with neighbors and friends who truly loved me and still do. When I first saw the deer and animals in the water with the fire behind them I cried. This area is so beautiful and unique. I love my home state and I am proud to be from there. My grandma sewed my clothes. My grandpa fished and hunted our food. We had a huge garden we ate out of. My grandpa taught me about nature. And Dolly and my step mom were my fashion style. What a lovely letter. My best friend recently flew me back to Nashville and we ate till I gained 15 lbs. It has changed. Jolene is my favorite. Here is to you Amy and the beautiful sweet mountain girl Dolly Parton. With love from Oregon to Tennessee. Debbie Jo
I’ve loved her for many years. I always knew she was an angel. So sweet and down to earth. Her heartfelt generosity did not surprise me.
Dear Dolly, I have enjoyed your music for many years and also your movies. Helping your community at these times of adverisity is so amazing. Your kindness and generosity is insurmountable.
May god bless you and your family .Havea very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year… love Enid..
Wow! This is a great legacy Dolly Parton left. We need stuff like this in Africa.
This is so sweet. 🙂 My name is Jada, and my mom is Dolly’s sister, Freida. If you do make it to Dollywood, please come to the ‘My People’ show next to the museum! Myself, her brother Randy, his daughter, Heidi, and two of our cousins preform a show she wrote, and I think you might like it. Thanks again for this post…she truly is an awesome, kind, and magical person who wants to spread all tge love she can. ♡
Thank you, Jada! I’m sorry that I’m just catching up with comments now, but I really appreciate your suggestion. We enjoyed Dixie Stampede with 7 family members this week, and then my daughter and I plan to visit Dollywood over one of the upcoming weekends. We will most definitely look forward to seeing the ‘My People’ show, and I’m so glad you brought it to my attention before we got there. Blessings and love to your whole family.
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i love you dolly. you have strong faith,i just cant figure out why you voted for Hillary Clinton, but that’s why we live in America–freedom of speech.!!!!!! plan to come to Dollywood in 2017…
Hey, do read my blogs and if you like it do press the follow button.
Thank you😊
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I thought she was a just a singing bimbo but now I believe she is Gaia incarnate.
I am so glad to read this story. I have loved Dolly since I was old enough to know what a woman was and then through the years I learned what a “REAL” woman was and I loved her even more. God bless Dolly for the lady of Tennessee she has been and continues to be. I do not have a lot of money but my check to her fund will be in the mail tomorrow for as much as I can possibly afford. A fellow Tennessean and honest admirer of one of the most wonderful person’s on this earth, Dolly Parton. Jim
Dollywood, and Sevier Co. in East Tennessee are wonderful places. My favorite place outside of NJ and the only area I would consider relocating to away from the seashore.
I have a friend that used to work in a place in Chicago that hosted the “stars” and she had to accommodate whatever star was there. She worked with many but she said, hands down, that Dolly was the nicest person she ever had the honor to serve. I think she doesn’t only have a sweet voice, she has a sense of humor and a passion to make this world a better place. Thanks Dolly for being you!!
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I grew up knowing about Dolly Parton, who she was, how she was raised, & how she got her start ! I used to watch her every morning at 5:30-6, and she is one special gifted love! She is my super Star HEROIONE! Love you Dolly Parton! Thanks for this great item!
I think it’s important for people to be encouraged by examples of generosity and charity.
Amy……thank you for your post. It’s never easy, but necessary to admit when we misjudged someone on their appearance. Believe me I was always the one family and friends said “oh you know why he is smiling at you or why he’s really good asking you out”. It hurts deeply when others don’t see what you have to offer and the kindness in your heart. Coming out and making this statement is extremely admirable of you. I think your post will make a big difference in others opinions.