I remember Saturday nights and my dad having the tv on the Porter Wagner show (back in the days of 3 channels). I detested country music and had no appreciation for anyone on that show. Fast forward a few years and I began to appreciate Dolly and all of her gifts. That love for her genuine goodness has only grown through the years. I was lucky enough to see her show last summer here in Nashville and I imagine it will be a hit on Broadway when it debuts this winter. D texted me at lunch to let me know this news and as soon as I got home, I turned on tv to find that our local news has pre-empted national programming to cover this sad news. She is so beloved everywhere, but especially here in TN. What a treasure she was to our world 
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My heart is broken to hear about Dolly. So talented, but more important is that she cared about other people. She put her money and her reputation out there to help others. She truly made a difference. What a big heart! 
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One of my favorite Dolly stories is one I learned years ago on the Studio B tour that is part of the Country Music Hall of Fame. When Dolly wrote “I Will Always Love You”, Elvis wanted to record the song and Dolly was all for it until Colonel Tom Parker said that Elvis had to own the majority interest in any song he recorded. Dolly thought about it and said she couldn’t give that interest up because of what the song meant to her. I can’t help but think about all the revenue she has earned from that song through the years and all the good she has done with it. In addition, I think she was a wonderful example of what a woman could do in multiple sectors of the business world. Someone little girls could look up to…
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Porter Wagoner was on every Saturday night at our house too - because my dad loved Dolly. If he was living, today would have been Dad’s 85th birthday. She had the most beautiful voice and was just such an amazing, giving person who did so much good in the world.
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Just saw the news about Dolly. So sad. What an icon. And so generous. Loved her reading/book programs.
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I can’t even concentrate. I am so sad.
Like @2VU0609, I watched Dolly and Porter Wagoner on Saturday nights with my parents. But unlike @2VU0609, I loved country music and still do.
My favorite Dolly song was hands-down Coat of Many Colors, and I still cry today when I hear it. Islands in the Stream, her duet with Kenny Rogers, was my mom’s second-favorite song, after Randy Travis’ Forever and Ever, Amen.
Ds2 chose a career/careers centered on country music, and my mom and I were over the moon when he got to meet Dolly. Seeing the pic of them together was the one time I saw my mom legitimately impressed. He has one of those charity vanity license plates with her picture and the money is directed to her Imagination Library.
Such a talent and a good human being. I’m just devastated. Hang on, Willie.
ETA: My favorite line of hers was “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!” Just love her.
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Proving that we all change throughout our lives, I do enjoy country music now. Most of the songs mentioned by people here are in the Broadway show that I saw here in Nashville last August. I imagine tickets will be hard to get for early shows this winter, but well worth the effort and expense. Part of the ending of the show is about her founding of the Imagination Library in memory of her father. If you go, take a few tissues.
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I am OK with crossover music, but not a particularly big fan of straight country music, although this one always cracked me up:
Separate issue, several years ago we were going to a meeting at our accountants office, which was in a fun funky part of town. We were walking down the hall of this converted warehouse type building and walking towards us were Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. They were in town filming a movie. That was so cool.
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I read every one of Dolly’s quotes with her voice in my brain. RIP.
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My wife isn’t a big fan of Tennesseans but always speaks of Dolly in reverence - someone who really tries to make society better vs. tearing it down.
She’s one of those larger than life personalities - I’ve always knowb about her but she didn’t have concert tours every year. She had an amusement park.
But she helped kids.
A true icon.
RIP.
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Listening Dolly sing “Stairway to Heaven” made it a different song. A truly ethereal experience.
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I can’t process this information. Dolly Parton… truly one of a kind.
Her singing ‘I Will Always Love You’ played while JustADaughter and I held my mil’s hands as she died. Dolly has always held a special place for both JustADaughter & me.
I made a donation to her Imagination Library today, my company matched.
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see…” (indeed!)
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Some of my favorite Dolly quotes (in addition to the one you shared)
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb - and I’m not blonde either.”
and her hilarious line in support of gay marriage, “Sure, why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do.”
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Changed the world. Mourned by nearly everyone. Beloved by her family. Led a genuine, authentic, extraordinary life. What else could any one us hope for? (And she didn’t need a ballroom or a triumphal arch, either)
when she proposed Dollywood to her accountants, they were horrified and told her it was a terrible waste of her money. What did she do, she was asked? “I got new accountants”
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I am so sad about Dolly Parton. She was the best of the best. What a loss to the world.
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Sounds like some sort of a very fast moving cancer that has been flying under the radar. MM? So sad.
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I love Coach Jackie on Instagram. Here’s a story I hadn’t heard. And how cute is she as a band kid?
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Wow! I never caught the connection. Do you think she planned it?
ETA - silly me, today is 8/25…