Country music legend Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80.
Variety reports:
Per the family’s official obituary, “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Simply put, she was the best to ever do it.
Country Universe joins Parton’s family, friends, and fans in grief.
I certainly wondered if this tragic day would come sooner than expected, with the various health problems Dolly has had in the last year or so, but I doubt many thought it would come this soon. I’m beyond devastated she’s gone, but I’m also tremendously grateful for how much she offered this world, but in regards to her musical talents but also her generosity and love she had for people.
I figured I would do what we did when Toby Keith died and name some favorite songs by her. She has so many classics, but I’ll throw out Silver and Gold as an underrated favorite of mine, as well as Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man for a duet with Porter. And of course, You Can’t Make Old Friends with Kenny Rogers.
Rest in peace, Dolly. The world will miss you tremendously.
I still haven’t even recovered from Olivia Newton-John four years ago, and she did her last recording with Dolly Parton.
I’m gonna need Pam, Kane, and Madonna to all outlive me because this world’s already getting too dark.
…you could also look at it from this angle perhaps: these people made the world particularly bright. like a “twix” sometimes.
I know it sounds cliche, but losing Dolly really is like losing a family member that you have known and loved all your life. This is definitely the most heartbreaking celebrity death in my lifetime, so far, and it was a day I had hoped would still not come for a long time yet. :(
What makes her passing so sad is not only losing such a truly talented woman and a legendary figure, but that she was also one of the most genuine, caring, and kind hearted souls to walk this earth. She truly was an inspiration for us all to try to be better people. The world now feels like a less kind and less happier place without Dolly Parton in it.
Like CJ above, I’ll list some my favorite Dolly songs (I have so many I could mention).
“But You know I Love You”
“Hard Candy Christmas”
“Yellow Roses”
“Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That”
“You’re The Only One”
“I Really Got The Feeling”
“Everything Is Beautiful (In Its Own Way)” w/ Willie Nelson
“Heartbreaker”
“Those Memories Of You” (feat. Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris)
“Tennessee Homesick Blues”
“Real Love” w/ Kenny Rogers
“Old Flames (Can’t Hold A Candle To You)”
“Think About Love”
“Rockin’ Years” w/ Ricky Van Shelton
“Eagle When She Flies”
To mention a lesser known song, I want to mention “Slow Dancing With The Moon,” which I absolutely adore. “Silver And Gold” is another great one, too, as CJ mentioned. Her first two albums of the 90s, 1991’s Eagle When She Flies and 1993’s Slow Dancing With The Moon are full of great album cuts, imo.
Rest in peace, Dolly. You will be truly missed!
I can’t/won’t go through the holiday season without listening to “Hard Candy Christmas”.
Though it had been known that Dolly had been battling health issues for a year, this is still a shock to end all shocks. To lose a mega-legend like her, when it looked like she was country music’s Energizer Bunny at the age of 80, obviously hurts to the core.
And it hurts even more when you realize that, like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, Dolly was loved well beyond what are considered the confines of country music itself, by people across all generations, ethnicities, races, and political beliefs.
Here are my personal favorites of Dolly’s:
“Jolene”
“All I Can Do”
“Here You Come Again”
“Two Doors Down”
“Heartbreaker”
“Baby I’m Burnin'”
“Sweet Summer Lovin'”
“Starting Over Again”
“9 To 5” (natch!) (LOL)
I know some are going to ask, “Where is the stuff from Trio?” Well folks, that album is in a class by itself; and while it does largely display Dolly’s Appalachian roots, she basks in the glory with Linda and Emmylou, and she always admitted it. Besides, without this one collaborative album (let alone the second one in 1999), there’s likely no Highwomen, no Pistol Annies, and probably no (Dixie) Chicks either (IMHO).
My parents’ favorite song by her was In My Tennessee Mountain Home. It reminded them of their childhood. They both grew up during the Depression.
I guess mine would be Coat Of Many Colors. As a kid, that song always made me cry.
What a talent she was. She came from nothing but had faith in herself and a trust in God. There will never be another Dolly Parton. The world is crying tonight.
“Coat Of Many Colors” and “Here You Come Again” are a couple more favorites of mine mentioned here that I somehow neglected to list myself, I guess from being so shocked that she’s gone. “Coat Of Many Colors” is probably one of the most perfect songs. It also makes me teary eyed whenever I hear it.
I don’t think I have words, and yes @Kevin, knowing Olivia’s last recording was with Dolly is more bittersweet now. Like you, I’m not entirely over Olivia yet. But was this a shock? Not precisely, but it happening was, if that makes sense. Knowing it might was different, you know?
Like all, some of my favourite songs.
Jolene
Coat Of Many Colours
Here You Come Again
Baby I’m Burning
Daddy Come And Get Me
My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy
Applejack
Dumb Blonde
Romeo (with Billy Ray Cyrus, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Pam Tillis & Kathy Mattea)
9 to 5
So many others
RIP Dolly
Here’s what her West Coast Trio pal Linda has said about Dolly’s passing:
““I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Dolly Parton. One of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life was recording with her. The world is a poorer place without her.”
Yesterday on the drive home from work, the classic country music station with an obviously pre-programmed playlist was playing “Islands in the Stream”. That was never a favorite of mine for either Kenny or Dolly but it really hit me hard knowing these icons of my elementary school days are both gone.
Dolly reminded me of Betty White in that she had a renaissance of fan rediscovery in her senior years. One could say she was more beloved in the final five years of her career than during her hitmaking prime. I watched the evening news last night and more than half of the broadcast was dedicated to Dolly. I think back to the deaths of Hollywood royalty like Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and neither of them got that treatment. It only hit me last night at 6 p.m. just big Dolly had become on the pop culture landscape.
“Coat of Many Colors” will always be my favorite Dolly song. In addition to long-time favorites like “Here You Come Again” and “Jolene”, I have a soft spot and intense nostalgia for “Don’t Call it Love”, which hits the sweet spot of mid-80s pop country that I spent hours every summer day listening to on my babysitter’s AM radio. I still get the feels every time that I hear that on classic country stations today, particularly when that saxophone bridge comes on.
We all know that Dolly’s greatness and contributions to humanity extended well beyond the world of country music. But with that said, I think these are the country hits of hers I most enjoy hearing:
– Coat of Many Colors
– My Tennessee Mountain Home
– Love is Like A Butterfly
– The Seeker
– Light of a Clear Blue Morning
– Here You Come Again
– 9 To 5
– Islands in the Stream
– Hard Candy Christmas
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Tyler92CountryMusic/dolly-parton-solo-records-ranked/
I went through Dolly’s solo record’s this year and put a few of my favorite songs from each album if interested. This is especially sad as I really didn’t know she was having health issues.
It feels like I’ve always known Dolly my entire life. She is the greatest female singer songwriter in any genre.
Listening to “My Tennessee Mountain Home” made me especially sad as it really sank in that she’s gone.
Mary from Blursky checking in here again!
Like Dolly, I have an unwavering optimism. I refuse to let the darkness overtake me, and so I will focus on all the positive things she did in and for this world, and to strive to be more like her in words and deeds (even though I’ll obviously never be as great as she was).
Probably not a common opinion, but I love “Joshua” and always have. It’s a song of hers that I always wish would get more recognition.
Hi Mary!
I like that one as well. It’s not one that comes up in the conversation much.
She was and always will be the icon/ambassador/what have you for what country music is, can be, should be. She’s earned her rest.
It’s one of those rare times in my life that I honestly have NO words. I just can’t yet. She had the biggest impact on my life of anybody that I never knew (although I briefly met her once). No words can do justice. Hopefully I can find more later.
A Haggard tune written by Red Lane has been running through my mind these past few days. It is titled “There Won’t Be Another Now.” In the love song is the line “There may be another morning but there won’t be another now.” All the other iconic artists that came before Dolly, and those that will come after, are the promise and light of other radiant mornings. Dolly Parton was the brilliant now that will never come again.
I feel blessed to have shared so many years of my life with her artistry, spirit, and personality.
Which of course puts me in mind of “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning”. Everything’s gonna eventually be okay. Eventually. But still, she will never be forgotten.
Not much I can add that hasn’t already been said. She was a great example… someone who actually practiced what she preached and walked the walk when it came to love, acceptance and service. As for songs, there are many, but I remember reading in her autobiography that “What a Heartache” was one of her personal favorites. She recorded it three times (in 1984, 1991 & 2002) with that last version from Halos & Horns being my favorite.
One of one, as they say, no doubt. They created (and subsequently broke) the mold when they made Dolly. Saw her in concert back in 2011, a show where the stories and little asides were just as thrilling as the music. Hard to pick a favorite, but I don’t think Eagle When She Flies gets mentioned nearly enough when talking about her best songs.