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DOLLY: AN ICON FOR OURTIMES
Dolly Parton has been a music icon for 50 years – the
most revered country singer-songwriter of all
time, she’s sold over 100 million records and won 10
Grammy Awards. But in recent years it’s become clear
she’s more than just a superstar – she’s a saviour.
Parton hit the headlines in early November when
it was revealed she was one of the major donors behind
the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, plouging $1m into the research
that led to the breakthrough because she wanted to “help heal
the world”.
She is also a champion of literacy. Parton founded the Imagination
Library 25 years ago to help youngsters who otherwise wouldn’t have the
chance to read, donating a book to registered children every month from
birth to age five – completely free. The project is a tribute to Parton’s
late father, “the smartest man I have ever known” but who was unable to
pursue his dreams because of illiteracy.
So far she has donated more than 130 million books, and works with
partner organisations to gift a book to 1.6 million kids a month.The Imagination Library operates in the UK. To find out more visit:
imaginationlibrary.com/uk/to have to pay the price and do your sacrificing, but it’s going to be
worth it. I’d have to tell her about I Will Always Love You. To me
that is really a classic love song.
I had a number one on it twice, once in the Seventies, then
I did it in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and
had another number one in the Eighties. And then Whitney
did it [in 1992] and it was considered one of the greatest love songs
of all time. Still to this day I take a lot of pride in that. So I’d tell my
younger self, you’re going to end up being very proud of your
little old self one day. So just buckle up and be ready for the ride.
A new album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, a new film for Netflix,
Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square, and a new book,
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics are all available to
listen to, watch and read now!
Interview: Jane Graham @JaneannieIf I could have one last conversation with anybody, I’d
probably talk to Elvis. And I’d probably talk about I Will Always
Love You and say hey, I bet you were as disappointed as I was
about all that and I still dream about you singing that song.
Matter of fact, I even wrote a song called I Dreamed about Elvis
Last Night and I had an Elvis soundalike sing it with me and we
actually sing ‘I will always love you’ in it. And one day, I’m going
to put that track out. So I think that I’d talk to Elvis, and just clear
that up with him.If I could live one moment of my life again, I think it’s when I
became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry back in the
late Sixties. When I found out it was going to happen I jumped
up and down, I was tickled to bits. I had always wanted to be
on the Grand Ole Opry. You would listen to it on the radio back
home and hear all those singers and that was where you wanted
to be if you were a country singer. I remember that night so well.
I remember how proud I felt thinking of my people listening
back home. That memory stands out the most because that
was the very first big moment. But I’ve had many, many special
nights since then.2020 In her
festive movie
Christmas On
The SquarePhoto:
©Ne
tflixParton gesture: Dolly reads from
the book Coat of Many Colors to
kids at the Great Hall in the US
Library of Congress in 2018CE
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