Dolly Parton, the Queen of Country Music, has died at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, her family announced on Tuesday, August 25. The news prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and celebrities worldwide, with figures including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Sir Elton John paying tribute to the 'unique and irreplaceable' music legend. In a grand gesture, Donald Trump ordered the US flag to be lowered throughout the country in her honour.
A six-decade career of music, film, and charity
Parton's career spanned over six decades, encompassing music, film appearances such as in 9 to 5, and extensive charity work. Throughout her life, she was known for her rhinestone-studded style and her trademark wit, often delivering memorable one-liners and pearls of wisdom. Her death has also led to revelations about her private life, including her nearly 60-year marriage to Carl Dean, and her final wishes, including the song she wanted played at her funeral.
On life and happiness
Parton often shared her philosophy on life, encouraging resilience and a positive outlook. 'The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,' she once said. She also advised, 'If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one,' and 'Find out who you are and do it on purpose.' She believed that 'Storms make trees take deeper roots' and that 'A positive attitude and a sense of humor go together like biscuits and gravy.'
She was also candid about the effort required to maintain happiness: 'You have to work at being happy. Some people work at being miserable. If I wake up in the morning and don’t feel great or things are not great, I try to think about what I can do to make things work better, rather than just falling into that deep hole, because then you just go deeper and deeper.' In a typically playful moment, she remarked, 'If I hadn’t been a woman, I’d have been a drag queen.'
On her looks and self-image
Parton was equally famous for her comments about her appearance, often poking fun at herself. 'I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb, and I also know that I’m not blonde,' she said. She also joked, 'It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,' and 'I look just like the girls next door… if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.'
She was open about her beauty regimen, noting, 'I have pretty good skin considering my age, and I think a lot of it is mineral oil and bacon grease.' She also said, 'I’m comfortable in my own skin, no matter how far it’s stretched.'
On her career and love
Parton's drive and business acumen were evident in her quotes about her work. 'My songs are like my children—I expect them to support me when I’m old,' she said. She also shared, 'I look like a woman but I think like a man. I’ve done business with men who think I’m as silly as I look. By the time they realise I’m not, I’ve done got the money and gone.'
Regarding love, she said, 'Love is something sent from heaven above to worry the hell out of you.' She also expressed support for marriage equality: 'I think gay couples should be allowed to marry. They should suffer just like us heterosexuals.' After the death of her husband, she shared her faith: 'I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday. And I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we’ve built together. You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans — but that’s the hardest part.'
Dolly Parton's legacy as a musician, actress, and philanthropist will endure through her songs and the countless lives she touched.
