Growing up in the middle of Tennessee, much of my childhood was spent packing up the car to drive three hours east to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, nestled at the base of the Smoky Mountains. Amidst the various tourist shops, a questionable number of pancake houses, and Ripley’s museums sits Dolly Parton’s amusement park: Dollywood. Many people who know and love Parton might not know of her 165-acre amusement park. Filled with southern charm, reminiscent of Parton’s upbringing in Appalachia, it offers something for everyone. Guests can find exhilarating roller coasters, mouth-watering food, country music shows, and an eagle sanctuary started by Parton herself. Dollywood’s park is a physical manifestation of Parton. It’s exciting, musical, and embodies a Southern culture that is accepting of all.
From Locust Ridge, Tennessee, about half an hour from Dollywood, Dolly Parton was born into a poor farming family. Fourth of twelve siblings, Dolly grew up in a one-bedroom cabin, which is referenced in many of her songs. She credits her mother, Avie Lee, for her music and singing abilities and her father, Robert, for her sharpness in business. Dolly began singing from an early age and performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville by age 13. The day after graduating from Sevier County High School in 1964, Dolly moved to Nashville; the rest is history.
Outside of her music and commercial success, Dolly Parton has attributed much of her time to charity and community support. In 1995, she launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which aimed to mail children’s books to families in Sevier County, Tennessee, at no cost. As of 2004, it expanded statewide; today, millions of books have been mailed globally. Parton greatly values education and through her librabry, she is able to expand the opportunities for learning and reading to children everywhere.
Dolly has made extensive efforts to support and give back to local families in Sevier County, which is largely low-income. Starting in the 80s, Parton began her scholarships and programs to raise graduation rates and encourage students to pursue higher education. For example, she started “The Buddy Program” which promises seventh and eighth graders $500 each if they pair up and both graduate. Additionally, she has several scholarship programs for high school students and Dollywood employees in need of assistance with tuition and textbooks.
In 2016, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge suffered from wildfires that damaged much of the national park and surrounding areas. Parton’s MyPeople fund gave more than $8 million in monthly checks to those affected by the fires. A significant number of donations were raised from a telethon Parton put on. In addition to the checks, Dolly Parton established a scholarship for high school students who lost their homes in the fires.
In 2020, amidst the initial quarantine period, Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Moderna to fund their vaccine research at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Moderna went on to produce a vaccine with a 94.5% effective rate. Parton also pledged one million dollars to Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital after they treated her neice who was fighting leukemia.
This is only a few of Parton’s many acts of good deeds. From charity donations to supporting LGBTQ+ rights, Parton has cemented herself in history as an admirable figure and continues to use her success for good. Parton has continued to release music like her recent rock and roll album, “Rockstar!” and most recently celebrated her 78th birthday. I have looked up to Dolly Parton for as long as I can remember. Pictures of her litter my bedroom wall, Dolly t-shirts fill my dresser drawers, and I made my Mamaw include a headshot of her with the family photos. Her success and philanthropy continue to inspire many, and she is a shining light for us all.