Dolly Parton: the country icon who continues to change the world

By Ty Tollman

When scrolling through your playlists to pick one for your walk to lectures or for a study session, you probably have a general idea of which playlist fits the current vibe. But somehow, many find that Dolly Parton’s music fits every vibe, every season, and answers every question. How is this possible? Of course, Dolly Parton was an incredible, versatile singer covering countless themes in her songs. From themes of love and work to childhood and nature’s beauty, her talent and flexibility is undeniable. Plus, her songs are just so catchy. But crucially, she preaches through her music a universal message that makes her songs powerful and captivating: love others, and love yourself.

In the world of country music, this was revolutionary and incredibly exciting. Until now, nobody had expressed such confidence, passion, and compassion in what was a genre characterised by reserved themes, a simple country lifestyle, and a lack of a clear message. Dolly wasn’t here to play along those lines. Dolly was here to change the world, and music was the vehicle for that change. Staunchly vocal for LGBTQ+ rights, her message of love was a powerful one to hear in the 80s when the community’s acceptance in society was still mixed. Uniquely, her message was not constrained by the politics that dehumanises and buries the people themselves. “I just want everybody to be treated good,” Dolly emphasised, without the need to pick battles and sow division. The place to do this was through music, where her love shines through like a powerful star, unambiguous and universal.

Crucially, she preaches through her music a universal message that makes her songs powerful and captivating: love others, and love yourself

Another branch of Dolly’s legacy holds the second part of her message: love yourself. When people remember “Saint Dolly”, a name devoted to her by many, they celebrate a musical genius but also an iconic, inspirational figure for the feminist message. With her confident and glamorous style that Dolly admitted was modelled from the “beautiful […] town trash whore”, she defined her own timeless femininity that persisted through countless cultural changes in her lifetime. This timelessness, self-determination, and self-love was exactly the legacy Dolly left for generations of women, proud of their identity and femininity, knowing they have to change for no one. As Dolly sings in Dumb Blonde: “Just because I’m blonde, don’t think I’m dumb / ‘Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool”.

Uniting both of these branches is an easy task. Take Dolly Parton’s famous musical 9 to 5: a hilarious, empowering story of three female coworkers who plot to depose their sexist boss. When they stand up and take control of the office that has oppressed them for too long, the musical portrays a clear example of how there is nothing a woman can’t do. All to an incredible, catchy soundtrack written by Parton herself! This masterpiece will live in theatres and communities for years to come. Through the power of her music, it provides joy and inspiration to those who watch it, but also a powerful message to never doubt your strength and love who you are.

That’s the power of music, especially Dolly Parton’s music

Along with Dolly’s feminist advocacy, her philanthropy became more than just philanthropy. It was fuelled by compassion and empathy that continues to stretch her legacy across generations. Her Imagination Library helps millions of children to read with free books, and the Dollywood foundation organises grassroots efforts to support education and make real change in children’s lives. Her significant donations to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine as well as emergency relief for those affected by natural disasters continue to spread her legacy of compassion beyond the words she sang. In fact, they make those words so much more meaningful, grounded in Dolly’s desire to see people around her flourish. Dolly also acknowledges that it isn’t the money that shows this compassion, but the compassionate act itself, rooted in the caring relationships she treasures. In Coat of Many Colors, Dolly outlines just that: “Now I know we had no money / But I was rich as I could be / In my coat of many colors / My mama made for me”. This distinguishes Dolly from contemporary philanthropists, making her legacy so special and long-lasting.

Fortunately, Saint Dolly’s legacy is not defined by the words on this paper alone. Before her passing, Dolly revealed that more songs that she recorded were kept in a vault to be released throughout the next century. Clearly, her magical legacy of love and compassion prevails not just through remembering her life and work, but through celebrating the musical gifts she continues to give to generations beyond her. That’s the power of music, especially Dolly Parton’s music.

Image: Illustrated by Grace Gibbons