Created with the help of Gemini AI
I’m not a big fan of the star system. I’ve worked too long in the entertainment business to be fooled that anyone who is good at one job qualifies them in any way for adulation about the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, it’s quite the opposite.
So when a famous performer dies, I’m sad generally. If I liked their work, it’s too bad I won’t get to appreciate any more of it. I’m also sad in the way we all are when another person dies, thinking of the effect on their families and friends.
Dolly Parton was different.
Think of those empathetic people who, when you’re talking to them, seem to be completely interested in you and what you’re saying? Dolly cared so much about other people she could do that to every audience member in a whole auditorium, a movie audience, or anyone on electronic media of all sorts.
I wasn’t a fan of Dolly Parton in the traditional sense. Of the thousand or more songs she recorded, I’ve only heard a few, and I only perform couple of them. For me, her “Trio” work with Linda Ronstad and Emmy-Lou Harris was a highlight.
And now she’s gone, and I think of the huge family whose lives were affected by her personality, her music, her philanthropy, and her example of how we should live our lives. And that’s a big loss to humanity.
She was a ray of bright sunshine in the gathering darkness, and just knowing she no longer walks among us leaves me with a personal sense of loss.
Thank you, Dolly, for being you.