The enduring cultural icon that is Dolly Parton

The country music legend joked that she’d rather “drop dead” on stage singing one of her songs than ever retire.

INSTAGRAM / @DOLLYPARTON

2022 WAS A a big year for Dolly Parton. Last October she announced her new Christmas album, A Holly Dolly Christmas: Ultimate Deluxe Edition, and then in December, she performed alongside Goddaughter Miley Cyrus at the young pop star’s second annual, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party. And while she’s now 77 years old — Parton shows no signs of slowing down.

During a recent interview on the Greatest Hits Radio show, the country music star revealed she has no plans for retirement as she’s “not one to sit around and do nothing.” In fact, she hopes to eventually bow out by dropping dead on stage mid-way through one of her songs.

“I would never retire. I’ll just hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song onstage someday. Hopefully, one I’ve written. But that’s how I hope to go,” Parton began. “Of course, we don’t have much of a choice in that. But as long as I’m able to work, as long as my health is good and my husband is good. I mean, the only way that I would ever slow down or stop would be for that reason. But in the meantime, I’m gonna make hay while the sun shines.”

But her work ethic goes beyond musical achievements, with perhaps some of Parton’s most worthwhile contributions being her inspiring and life-long philanthropic work. In November 2022, Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos awarded Parton a $US100 million ($149 million) prize for charitable endeavours.

The Bezos Courage & Civility Award recognises leaders who “pursue solutions with courage and civility,” Mr Bezos said online.

 
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The country music star, who was also just days ago inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, is not only exceptionally talented but as Bezos has very much brought to the attention of anyone who didn’t know, an exceptionally generous philanthropist too.

In 2021 Parton donated $700,000 to victims of the Tennessee floods and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, she donated $US1 million to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Centre to help develop the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

Parton has also founded a number of charities including the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on education as well as poverty relief and she has donated over 184 million books to children around the world with her Imagination Library, her children’s book, Coat of Many Colours, was dedicated to the Library of Congress to honour the Imagination Library’s 100 millionth book donation.

And on top of this the musician, songwriter and actress has also assisted the animal advocacy group, PETA by donating her hit, Will You Be Waiting for Me? for a heart-warming television spot, reminding people that pets like humans, need company.

While her extensive philanthropic work makes Parton unequivocally generous, and her 2022 induction into a very enviable list of rock and roll musicians showcases her talent and success in the music industry, Parton’s legacy doesn’t stop there.

Parton is also a successful businesswoman, with businesses that are worth an estimated $350 million no less. These include her own fragrance, a Netflix production deal, a theme park, Dollywood, and even a dog clothing and accessory line – Doggy Parton.

But above all of this, without a doubt, Dolly Parton is a treasured, cultural icon.
INSTAGRAM / @DOLLYPARTON
Parton has set herself apart from many a pack, in many a field and where others have fallen. Parton has remained herself (yes, fake breasts and hair included). She has stayed grounded and without ego and is never one to take herself too seriously, you just look at her own Dolly-isms, her self-deprecating quotes – “I’m very real where it counts, and that’s inside” – to see this.

And these characteristics cannot be underestimated and have undoubtedly contributed to Parton’s lasting popularity.

Dr Jessica Ford, Lecturer in Screen and Cultural Studies at The University of Newcastle (and fellow Dolly admirer) says that Parton’s appeal comes down to her “unique Dolly-ness.”

“She is both a ditsy blonde and makes fun of ditsy blondes. There is a sincerity and simplicity but also a visually spectacular aesthetic.”

But most importantly, with Parton, you always know what you are going to get – big wigs, sequinned and rhinestone-covered dresses, huge fake boobs and lips and the heck of a voice. And these have remained consistent Dr Ford says, the key to her success, especially within the country music industry where authenticity is a must.

Despite all of her achievements over the past few years – for me a long-time Parton fan, it was her announcement of a Holly Dolly Christmas: Deluxe Edition released in October, that had me most excited.

Not because Parton and Christmas music are a new combination, its legacy could even rival Mariah Carey’s in this regard (don’t tell MC I said that), but because at age 76, Parton is still being her authentic self, she is still doing what she loves and she is still in the headlines for good reasons, something arguably rare for many celebrities who’ve been in the spotlight for decades.

 
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Reading the kid’s book, Little People, Big Dreams, featuring Dolly Parton, to my two daughters and detailing her humble upbringing (one that is actually humble), alongside her enduring love and passion for music from an early age and how despite obstacles that would have stopped most, Dolly persisted and overcame them. For me, this has always been Parton’s appeal, her hard-working and determined drive and her authentic self and how those were the traits that helped her succeed.

She is a role model, not perfect, not without fault, but an authentic person who works hard and understands her shortcomings.

Because the truth is, there is something impressive about a woman who openly proclaims and proudly displays all of her fakenesses but who always looks a million bucks and who is so authentically real doing it. Is it a dichotomy? Sure, but that’s the reality for most of us, isn’t it? Parton just manages to sing hers really loudly.