08/26/2026
Today feels like we lost someone we somehow thought would live forever.
Dolly Parton was so much more than a country music legend. She was a strong, brilliant, funny, generous woman who never forgot where she came from. She built an incredible life, broke barriers for women, gave back to millions of people, and somehow remained humble, kind and unapologetically herself through it all.
For me, though, Dolly has always been a little more personal. When your name is Jolene, growing up with Dolly Parton is pretty much unavoidable.
My Grandma Betty bought me the Jolene cassette tape when I was little, and I absolutely loved that cassette. I played it over and over in my Walkman until I knew every song, not just the ones everyone heard on the radio, but every single song on that tape. Those songs became part of the soundtrack of my childhood.
And, of course, I've spent my entire life hearing...
🎶 Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeene... 🎶 😂
But what I grew to admire most as I got older wasn't just Dolly's music. It was Dolly the woman. A woman who came from very little and built an extraordinary life. A woman who was incredibly generous. Someone who could laugh at herself, stand firmly in who she was, treat people with kindness, and use her success to make life better for others, especially children. She gave the world so much more than music.
Today I'll be thinking about Grandma Betty, that old cassette tape, my Walkman, and the little redheaded girl named Jolene who knew every word.
Rest easy, Dolly. Thank you for the music, the laughter, the stories, the example you set for women, and all the good you put back into this world.
The world is a little less sparkly today. ✨️ 💔
