08/26/2026
If anyone is wondering why we’re all devastated about Dolly:
She created the Imagination Library, which has given away more than 300 million free books to children. She funded scholarships, helped dramatically reduce high-school dropout rates in her hometown, donated millions to children’s hospitals and medical research, gave $1 million toward COVID research that helped support development of the Moderna vaccine, and provided millions in direct assistance to families after wildfires, floods and hurricanes. (AP News)
She also spent decades standing up for women and equality. 9 to 5 became an anthem for working women dealing with sexism and inequality, and Dolly said she used her music to speak for women. She publicly supported Black lives, LGBTQ+ people and marriage equality, repeatedly saying that everyone—Black, white, gay, le***an or transgender—deserves love, respect and an equal chance. (PBS Wisconsin)
She supported veterans, firefighters, wildlife conservation, pediatric cancer research, infectious-disease research and countless causes we probably never even heard about.
Dolly Parton didn’t just talk about kindness. She put her money, her platform and decades of her life behind it. That’s one hell of a legacy. ❤️
