As I opened Instagram on Aug. 25, the first thing I saw was a post from The New York Times announcing that Dolly Parton had died at the age of 80. This broke my heart because Parton was that one person I never thought would die, and though no one can truly live forever, the announcement still shook me.
When I was young, my favorite book was Who is Dolly Parton? by True Kelley, because it let me know how amazing some celebrities can be. Parton has many redeeming qualities, some of which provide important life lessons to live by.
One of Parton’s most endearing qualities was her prolific philanthropy. In 1995, Parton created her Imagination Library, giving nearly 300 million books to children around the world, according to billboard.com. Although that only barely scratches the surface of all the money she poured into things she was passionate about. Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University for coronavirus research, while also donating millions to hospitals and those affected by natural disasters, according to billboard.com.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the means to donate millions, but that does not mean that I cannot learn a lesson from Parton’s charity. All of her good deeds inspire me to give back to causes I am passionate about in any way possible, which, right now, is mostly volunteering at places like Feed My Starving Children or a local dog shelter.
Parton’s commitment to causes she actively supported is a constant reminder to us that we need to put our efforts towards what we care about too, instead of just standing idly and not doing anything.
Parton also never stopped creating. She recorded and released her first single, “Puppy Love”, in 1959 at age 13, and from that point on, she never stopped, releasing her final album “Rockstar” in Nov., 2023, according to the Library of Congress. Even when life had its ups and downs for her, Parton kept doing what she loved: creating music.
As I get older, life is going to become more challenging, but Parton proved to me that no matter what, it is possible, and necessary, to keep doing what I love. Whether it is rowing with another group of adults, going to Cubs games, or writing, I cannot give up on what I love to do for fun.
The biggest lesson to learn from Parton is to unapologetically be yourself.
Parton dressed the way she wanted, she donated to causes that could have sparked controversy, and she always wrote about what she believed. Parton never deviated from who she wanted to be, even under the spotlight.
I find it difficult to stay uniquely me on occasion, fearing the judgement that would come with it, but the way Parton handled her authenticity while being a constant figure in the media, proves to me that I do not have to live my life thinking about what others believe.
At the fourteenth Cubs game I attended this season, Parton’s “9 to 5” was chosen as the Song of the Game, and I have never heard a crowd bubbling with so much excitement to see a star’s name on the screen. Parton might be dead, but that does not mean that we will forget about her. Parton’s music and lessons will still find a way to stay immersed in the way I live my life.
