08/25/2026
Tennessee lost one of the greatest Tennesseans to ever live today.
Dolly Parton’s legacy is so much bigger than the music.
When wildfires devastated Gatlinburg and Sevier County, she created the My People Fund and put millions directly into the hands of families who lost their homes.
When Nashville flooded, she helped raise money to rebuild. When Hurricane Helene devastated East Tennessee and Appalachia, Dolly and her businesses gave millions in relief.
She supported children’s hospitals, medical research, scholarships and healthcare in East Tennessee.
She supported veterans and military families through organizations like the Boot Campaign.
But the Imagination Library is personal for me.
When I was a young Marine raising a family, we didn’t have much. There were times when we barely had a dollar to our name.
We signed our daughters up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Every month, a book showed up.
For free.
Back then, I didn’t fully understand what Dolly had built. I just knew those books mattered to my family.
Hundreds of millions of books later, I realize families all over the world have their own version of that story.
That’s what made Dolly different.
She became one of the most famous people on Earth and never forgot the people back home.
When Tennessee hurt, Dolly showed up.
When Appalachia hurt, Dolly showed up.
When veterans needed help, Dolly showed up.
When families needed help, Dolly showed up.
When kids needed books, Dolly showed up.
There are celebrities.
There are icons.
And then there are people who leave this world better than they found it.
Dolly Parton did that.
Tennessee will never have another one like her.
Rest easy, Dolly.
And from one Marine family who once needed those books
Thank you. ❤️
