Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Dolly Parton: the passing of a national treasure
Reading time: 4 minutes
Dolly Parton, one of the most famous musicians of her generation, passed away Tuesday, August 25, and millions of people whose lives she touched through her music, philanthropic efforts and positive spirit are mourning.
Widely regarded as the Queen of Country Music, Dolly was beloved not only by fans of the country music genre but by people all over the world.
She died at the age of 80, and spent her life as an artist, a musician, an actor, a philanthropist, an educator and a stateswoman.
Her death was announced via social media by her nephew, Bryan Seaver:
“Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
The Parton family’s official statement
her accomplishments include:
- Sold more than 100 million records globally, including singles, albums, and digital downloads.
- Holds the record for female artists with 25 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country singles charts
- Holds the record for any artist with 44 top-10 albums on the country charts.
- More than 110 of her singles have landed on the Billboard charts over her career.
- Won 11 Grammys from 50 total career nominations, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Won 10 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and 5 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.
- She is one of only seven female artists in history to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
- She has received nominations for all four major entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony
Dolly Parton’s ties to Alabama
While she was a native and lifelong resident of Tennessee, Dolly Parton’s ties to the state of Alabama go beyond the fact that her sister, Cassie Ann Parton, previously lived in Huntsville (did you know that?).
Her music has obviously touched the lives of so many Alabamians through the approximately 3,000 songs she recorded.
She also made it to Alabama to perform a few times, including:
- May 23, 1978 show at Montgomery Civic Center
- July 23, 1982, + December 3, 2005 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center
- June 9, 1990 alongside the band Alabama in Fort Payne
- November 16, 2016 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
And who can forget her song, “Alabama Sundown,” which describes so beautifully the sunset on Mobile Bay:
Lord, what I’d give to see an Alabama sundown
The sun just seemed to drop in Mobile Bay
New York town has got a gifted way to keep a girl down
But that never was the Mobile way, no, no
That never was the Mobile way“Alabama Sundown” by Dolly Parton
However, beyond her music, she has also touched the lives of Alabamians who may have never heard her sing a single note.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library operates in all 67 counties in Alabama, mailing a free book each month to children from birth to age five. The Imagination Library operates as a partnership between The Dollywood Foundation, the State of Alabama, and Local Program Partners who administer the program in their counties.
Governor Kay Ivey announced a statewide expansion of her program in 2023, with a 50% funding match from the state of Alabama. Since then, 22 Local Programs have been created and there was a 106% increase in registered children. Currently, more than 82,000 children are registered for the program in Alabama.
Her family said Tuesday that those wishing to pay tribute can share messages online by tagging @DollyParton on social media or leaving a note on her website.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
