What Dolly Parton Did When No One Was Watching

On August 26, at exactly 9:25—9 to 5—the top of the Empire State Building in New York City lit up pink.

The Empire State Building at 9:25 Empire State Realty Trust

And that look was matched across America on buildings and bridges. Who else would have the Buckingham Palace band play “9 to 5” in their memory?

By now, the life of Dolly Rebecca Parton has been rehearsed across every form of media platform on the globe. One piece of trivia I love is that she got her start in music with Peter Wagoner, famous for rhinestone-studded suits made by Ukrainian-American designer Nudie Cohn. Parton soon began wearing rhinestones herself.

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose. And do it with purpose. Don’t ever sacrifice who you are, your principles and your morals and your values to just try to get ahead in business. It ain’t worth it.”

Can’t say that I was a fan of Dolly’s music, but I am of her faith and philanthropy.

Just a few things Dolly did when no one was watching.

Dolly’s History of Philanthropy

1989: her Dollywood Foundation launched the “Buddy Program” offering $500 to pairs of middle school students in Sevier County, Tennessee, if both partners successfully graduated from high school. The county’s dropout rate went from 35% to 6%.

1995: started the Imagination Library and made over 325 million books free to kids from birth to kindergarten, named for her father who never learned to read. Children received specially-selected book personalized with the child’s name on a label, mailed directly to their home every month until their 5th birthday, at no cost to the child’s family. Over five million books were sent to Canadian children.

Post-2000

2000: an annual $15,000 college scholarship is awarded to five high school seniors in Sevier County, Tennessee who “have a dream they wish to pursue and who can successfully communicate their plan and commitment to realize their dreams.”

 2016: when wildfires tore through the Smokies, she skipped the press release and wired $1,000 a month, for six months, straight to families who’d lost their homes.

2017: gave $1 million to Vanderbilt’s children’s hospital after watching her niece go through leukemia treatment there.

2020: put $1 million toward COVID vaccine research. That money helped fund the Moderna shot.

2022: Jeff Bezos handed her $100 million. She moved it straight back out to causes she’d already spent a lifetime funding.

2024: contributed $2 million toward Hurricane Helene relief efforts in East Tennessee.

From an East Tennessee Neighbour

“Dolly saw the region she came from as a treasure.

When other people looked down their noses at her culture and deemed it no more than a cute curio, Dolly saw incredible potential. As if to say, ‘Oh they think we’re hillbillies?? Well ok then, let’s give ‘em HILLBILLY!’

And she opened a theme park bearing her name that featured all the caricatures and kitsch of mountain culture. She made a fortune off people’s enjoyment of it, then she turned around and gave much of that fortune right back to the people to whom that culture always belonged.

Dolly helped kids from her hometown learn to read and go to college. She supported rural healthcare and helped build a new birthing unit just miles from that two-room cabin where she was born. She gave Sevier County fire victims money to rebuild their homes.” Amanda Held Opelt

Humble Generosity

She stood up for LGBTQ+ folks, women, and other historically marginalized groups constantly.

“Some are preachers, some are gay, some are addicts, drunks, and strays, but not a one is turned away when it’s family. Some are lucky, others ain’t, some are fighters, others faint. Winners, losers, sinners, saints, it’s all family.”

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In her final years she paid for many Tennessee high schools’ band uniforms and bought a Nashville strip mall with her “I Will Always Love You” songwriting royalties to support the surrounding Black neighbourhood.

Dolly wrote over 3000 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide

Most of this we only found out about later, from other people.

“There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me—dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

I Will Always Love You”

Dolly.

Do you have a Dolly Story? Please join the conversation and post a comment below.

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