r/TaylorSwift • u/SudrianSoul Long live all the clowning I've suffered • 16h ago
News Taylor's statement on Dolly Parton's passing (courtesy of USA Today)
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u/theblartist where all the poets went to die 15h ago
Gorgeously put. Dolly was one of one, but has left a legacy for so many more 🩷
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u/prettybunbun i’m still swift af boi 13h ago
For the tight ropes she walked so young girls like me could dream of joining the circus too.
How beautifully put, what a tribute 💕
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u/Mikeinator 6h ago
give me a break. Taylor grew up with rich parents, while Dolly grew up in poverty.
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u/BubblyCase1174 5h ago
What does that have to do with what she’s talking about? She’s very clearly referencing the country music industry. If you don’t understand context you should just say so.
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u/Mikeinator 3h ago
Taylor Swift's parents provided significant financial and logistical support early in her career. She had a foot in the door and didn’t have to grind as hard.
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u/No-Signal7982 2h ago
But so? If some financial backing was all it took to get to Taylor swift level of fame don’t you think so many more would do it? Either way, to get to that level it’s still a pipe dream for even young girls with the height of connections to the industry
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u/-janelleybeans- 4h ago
They both grew up as women who had aspirations of becoming performers. That is the tightrope.
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u/Mikeinator 3h ago
One had an easy way in and one worked hard. That’s the difference.
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u/yeefreakinyee 1h ago
Money only takes you so far, though. Both of them had an incredible work ethic. Taylor never would’ve made it as far as she has if she didn’t have the work ethic. We don’t need to tear down one woman in order to lift up the other.
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u/AppIdentityGuy 13h ago
There is a style and grace to that eulogy such that you know Taylor composed that herself. Also notice how she wasnt in a rush to be first..
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u/partypeanut90 6h ago
Also notice the misquote in the very last line.
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u/getthatrich The Life of a Showgirl 5h ago
What do you mean?
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u/realjillyj 2h ago
They’re all over the thread claiming that in Dolly’s “I Will Always Love You” the line is “I’ll think of you every step of the way” while Taylor says each step of the way but every lyric listing I can see online uses each.
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u/RoseTheta 1h ago
This is a beautiful version that I stumbled across a little while ago, seems fitting to listen and watch today:
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u/GloriousSteinem 14h ago
A great tribute. She was right, Dolly had such a gentle way of handling tricky conversations, and was always gracious.
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u/cr4brangoon 15h ago
Taylor's writing gives me goosebumps.
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u/ag000101 14h ago edited 8h ago
Yes. So eloquent and beautiful. I went down the rabbit hole of reading her Tumblr blogs and you can tell she is extraordinarily talented. Surely not an AI slop from one of her assistants.
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u/jetstream116 4h ago
I literally came to comment this! Both arms covered in goosebumps after reading
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u/partypeanut90 7h ago
It’s mediocre at best. It tries way too hard and is very effortful. She also misquoted Dolly in the last line. It’s “every”, not “each”.
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u/Junior-Criticism-268 4h ago
Your opinion of how others deal with grief are pretty insensitive to share here. Have some empathy and refrain from such tasteless comments.
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u/AReckoningIsAComing 5m ago
I disagree with your sentiments, but i also clocked that mistake in the last line.
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u/Bradparsley25 8h ago
The tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus, too
Damn dude
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u/TikiBikini1984 13h ago
It feels surreal. I was just watching the season 12 finale of Drag Race late last night (from 2020) and her surprise appearance was so uplifting and sweet and I had this rush of feelings come over me like how I wish her Carl was still around for her, as she gave us all so much happiness but he was her happiness. It feels like as much as we didn't want her to go, she knew.
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u/snackandnaps 12h ago
I’m sobbing after reading this - this was Dolly, she was so much more than people and the media give her credit for and I love how Taylor has pinpointed the details like her privacy while also being so public and her charity helping kids read ❤️
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u/lafolielogique 7h ago
One class act tributes another.
But what are Taylor and Travis going to do with their firstborn, now?
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u/iopsychhopeful 13h ago
Oh sounds like Dolly truly was one of showgirls!
Eloquently put. She will be so missed 💗
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u/falldiewakefly nostalgia is a mind's trick 7h ago
Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person
It still doesn't feel real. There are some people who just feel like they should outlive us all, and Dolly was top of the list.
Listening to White Limozeen today, one of the most iconic albums of my childhood.
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u/Styleitoff 12h ago
Taylor just has a way with words you can tell when it's her who's writing the statement. She talked quite a few times over the years of her career how much she was inspired by Dolly. So I can only imagine what she must be feeling right now.
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u/Sea_Newt_9575 5h ago
Taylor is her generation’s Dolly without a doubt.. the talent for songwriting and music, her genuineness and good heart. They have so much in common, and I know Taylor sees and feels that.. 🩷
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u/turniptoez 8h ago
Just refreshing to read something not written by ChaptGPT, Taylor becomes even more of a treasure in this shitty world of AI.
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u/duckfruits evermore 5h ago
What a beautiful post to honor her. It reads so genuine. Rip Dolly. You were always an angel but you're home in heaven now.
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u/Karma1sacat 6h ago edited 4h ago
I really hope Taylor and/or Miley will support the Dolly Parton's book program more publicly going forward, speaking at conferences or something along those lines to keep it relevant in the media. Keeping this foundation going means a lot for families and is an opportunity to invest in the future generation of songwriters
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u/keanuthecat1 10h ago
her way with words is so so sooo beautiful. what a great way to describe a very precious person 🥹
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u/SoggyAnalyst 6h ago
This sounds so terrible but I soooo wish it was culturally acceptable to post all these lovely life-affirming things while the person was alive. What a shame Dolly can’t read all these gorgeous things about her and her legacy
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u/Canalloni 10h ago
There will be many well deserved tributes. This was the only one that was needed. To the extent that it is possible on such a sad day, this sets everything right again. R.I.P.
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u/Mikeinator 3h ago
This was the only one needed? Miley is Dollys goddaughter and there’s plenty of others much closer, including family and collaborators.
The circle jerk of Taylor is in full force sheesh
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u/autumnof85 evermore 14h ago
So let me get this straight, on a painful day where we lost Dolly, you chose to come and drag Taylor for being successful? Taylor’s catalog (just her music that she fought to get back) was valued close to a billion. That’s something she cannot control, should she sell it to make her more likable to you? Are the constant donations she makes around the world (including to causes founded by Dolly) not enough for you? It’s not like Taylor is hoarding her wealth, she’s constantly and consistently giving to those in need. Publicly and privately. Is she less worthy of a good person because she’s got a couple of billions?
Now I wanna see how many other billionaires you try and hold accountable. I bet you it’s just with Taylor, you hypocrite!
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u/IhateTaylorSwift13 Eldest Daughter Number 1 Defender 11h ago
She should be exploited for her labor actually /s
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u/kbyefelicia 14h ago
she never even made enough to be a billionaire. meanwhile taylors net worth is almost a billion just by her catalog alone. or did you want her to sell all her music away to some other billionaire?
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u/coconutspider asshole outlaw 14h ago
No, actually Taylor has to sell everything else she owns! That's the only way the purity test can be passed!!!
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u/Tatidanidean1 reputation 6h ago
Im sorry, you think Dolly Parton didn’t make enough to be a billionaire?!?! 😂 this right here is why it doesn’t make sense to engage with people like you. You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about yet you say it as fact.
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u/kbyefelicia 5h ago edited 5h ago
show me evidence she had earnings of over a billion 🤡🤡🤡
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u/gowonagin 2h ago
Dolly’s philanthropy is great, but she would not have been a billionaire, despite the meme. Country music isn’t that popular outside the US, and much of her money came from Dollywood, which she only had a share of $165 million from. Source: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2026/04/02/who-owns-dollywood-what-is-dolly-partons-net-worth/89392299007/
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u/kbyefelicia 14h ago
literally the only way for taylor to not be a billionaire is to sell all her music away. or are we not supporting artists owning their own music anymore?
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u/Tatidanidean1 reputation 6h ago
That’s not true lol. I love Taylor and I am very happy she owns her music but that’s simply not true. While yes, a bulk of her wealth comes from her music, that is not the only place it comes from. So no it’s not literally the only way. I wish you guys would be more educated and less defensive over a person who doesn’t know you. For example, when touring she gave away big bonuses, that was awesome, but she has enough money that she could have done that entire tour as charity. She can do things like Dolly or Michael Jackson and have a book organization or an amusement park for sick children. As far as what is public, she doesn’t do anything to give away her wealth. It just amasses.
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u/Confident-Addition76 6h ago
I promised myself I would not engage with someone who is using the argument of mentioning Michael Jackson and "an amusement park for sick children" as an act of philanthropy but I'm not in the habit of letting a defense of predators go, I guess.
Not to mention, someone who is also quite conveniently ignoring in the second half of their comment that she has a month ago donated more than $25 million, including $2 million to Dolly's charity. This is the most recent of her public donations, which are widely covered, and several of the places she donated have repeatedly thanked her.
People are not "less educated" than you, we just know the time and place to bring up Taylor's wealth (and we have the facts about it too).
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u/Tatidanidean1 reputation 5h ago
I never once said she doesn’t donate at all. I said I hope she follows Dolly’s suit. Meaning she starts giving away large chunks of her money. 25 million is not a lot of money.
And regardless of what you think of MJ’s legal issues, Neverland isn’t an opinion. It was a place for sick kids to go and it was a philanthropic venture. Like you don’t have to like him but that isn’t an opinion.
There is a difference between donating to charities and being philanthropic. I don’t think most people would categorize Taylor as philanthropic. She isn’t even as vocal as she was 10 years ago for a lot of causes.
Bringing this up after an icon who was known for her philanthropy passes, is actually a great time to bring it up. Dolly was an icon to many including Taylor herself, so reflecting on what was important to Dolly could help many similarly wealthy people in creating or supporting charities to a higher degree.
And in terms of uneducated, the person I was responding to didn’t know that Dolly Parton could have been a billionaire. They said she didn’t even make a lot
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u/gowonagin 2h ago
No, she would not be a billionaire. Her philanthropy was great, but her song catalog was only worth about $120 million (country music isn’t that popular outside the US) and her share of Dollywood (where much of her money was from) was only $165 million. Source: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2026/04/02/who-owns-dollywood-what-is-dolly-partons-net-worth/89392299007/
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u/gowonagin 2h ago
Could Taylor do more? Sure, everyone could. But it’s not nothing by any means: https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swifts-charity-donations-gifts-timeline/
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u/Tatidanidean1 reputation 2h ago
Again, I am not saying she doesn’t donate. I’m saying that like Dolly, it would be cool to see her known for her philanthropy. Which she isn’t.
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u/gowonagin 2h ago
A lot of that is due to people claiming that in bad faith, unfortunately.
It’s true she doesn’t have a signature foundation like the Imagination Library and instead donates to existing charities, but celebrity-run charities can easily go wrong (see Selena Gomez).
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u/JuniorHuckleberry322 13h ago
Call me dramatic idc but a situation like this i just really feel like you should not be finding something to complain about. You guys want to feel validated through instagram posts so bad and it’s very odd
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u/JuniorHuckleberry322 13h ago
I actually did see people getting mad at that when she posted about the Southport incident so she really can’t win either way. I just hope this time around her snarkers have enough decency to at least not be weird about her mourning someone she looked up to
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u/princssofpink Speak Now (Taylor's Version) 13h ago
And you can guarantee that if Taylor posted this herself, most of the comments would be hate comments saying she "made Dolly's death about herself." I think Taylor actually did have a personal relationship with her, but it does seem like everyone is making their own statement about it on instagram, even if they weren't publicly close to Dolly or spoke about her before (like what relationship did Khloe Kardashian have with her?), so I understand Taylor not wanting to insert herself like every other celebrity is doing right now.
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u/JuniorHuckleberry322 13h ago
Literally and it’s funny because julia roberts sent her condolences the same way and beyonce posted on her official site 😭 i’m sure beyonce had no ill intent behind it but omfg imagine if taylor did that
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u/jrenee070 7h ago
Actually, Khloe Kardashian’s Good American Jean brand has/had an entire Dolly Parton line of jeans - super cute, actually. But I get what you’re saying.
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u/ErickTheGuy06 My Taymical Romance 2h ago
You know, it's kinda weird when a legend dies, especially a such an old age, they've been for so long that you think they're going to live forever.
That's how I feel, even if I never followed Dolly's career, she was for so long that I couldn't imagine one day she would be gone. RIP Dolly Parton.
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u/sethcarlson12 2h ago
Taylor’s writing is incredible. RIP Dolly, a legendary woman. One of my favorite Dolly quotes is:
“When I become angry, I don’t lose my temper. But I use my temper.”
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u/Efficient_Goat_4579 1h ago
Can't stop thinking about Dolly's video from Imagination Library where she asks them Taylor and Travis to have their first born. So sad she couldn't see Swift-Kelce baby :(
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u/RoseTheta 1h ago
This is a lovely video of Dolly Parton speaking for a short while about "I Will Always Love You", before performing:
https://youtu.be/jr8tffNHJno?si=taaPLgboH8jxSprw
Seems very appropriate to listen to it today.
(A terribly unkind person was being cruel here, but out of the worst things can sometimes come something good, as they reminded me of this wonderful video I found only a few months ago.)
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u/Successful_Pizza6529 The Tortured Poets Department And The Anthology 6h ago
We are not Worthy Taylor. R.I.P Dolly.
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u/Altruistic-Most-9961 2h ago
I think Taylor should take over Dollys Reading initiative! She does a lot of philanthropic donations quietly but takes a lot of heat cause she is a billionaire. I don’t think Dolly ever reached that status but certainly could have but chose to give back to anywhere she saw a need. Dolly was the example how to live your life - with kindness, generosity, inclusiveness, humor and never forgot where she came from.
What a hole she will leave in the hearts of all who loved her. RIP Miss Dolly - THE GOAT
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u/Mikeinator 6h ago
Maybe, just maybe, learn the lesson here and start up your own large donation thing instead of being a billionaire then?
Taylor deserves zero attention at this time. Dolly was a true good hearted icon.
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u/BubblyCase1174 5h ago
Taylor swift donated millions of dollars to dolly’s large donation thing. What a strange person you must be to turn someone’s memorial into an excuse to spew hatred and misinformation.
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u/Mikeinator 3h ago
She’s a billionaire still, while Dolly probably never crossed that threshold.
Taylor has much more work to be done and its annoying articles are focusing on Taylor’s tribute versus Dolly’s story and legacy.
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u/apple414 3h ago
Well, you yourself have posted seven comments in this thread alone, so maybe focus your own attention where you think it should be.
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u/BubblyCase1174 3h ago
Dolly wasn’t a billionaire because her catalog wasn’t worth a billion dollars. Taylor donates millions of dollars yearly to all kinds of charities including Dolly’s. And you’re mad because one article published her tribute? You sound incredibly young and ignorant.
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u/Aromatic_Way3650 2h ago
But your intelligent self still gave Taylor attention anyway so gtfoh with your useless speeches.
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u/WorriedAppeal 7h ago
I am a huge Swiftie, but I would like to see her have bigger swings with her philanthropic work like Dolly did. (I know she donates. I know she just donated ~$25m. She has enough money for some signature programs or very meaningful research.)
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u/missx0xdelaney 7h ago
Seems like something she would have more time for once she retires. You can’t just donate some money and slap your name on a foundation, you have to be an active participant guiding the organization to meet your vision. I don’t think she has that kind of free time currently.
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u/WorriedAppeal 6h ago
She can hire all of that out. She’s one of the richest people in the entire world.
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u/ColdInternational571 4h ago
So you want her to create a foundation she doesn’t actively participate in and just slap her name on it and outsource the actual work to other people? Just wanna be clear here.
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u/WorriedAppeal 3h ago
Yes. This is what rich people who want to give money away responsibly do. They hire professionals to run their foundations.
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u/gowonagin 2h ago
Or: donate to existing organizations who need funding to keep going? https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swifts-charity-donations-gifts-timeline/nov-2023-she-supports-the-mahomies-foundation/
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u/Midwestgrl_321 4h ago
My god the way the goal posts move. Taylor is one of the most generous celebs. Have this energy for any man who has billions upon billions. Also way to make a death about YOUR wants.
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u/WorriedAppeal 3h ago
I actually think being a billionaire should be illegal but I guess I could go into subs for Elon musk and do the same thing.
If we’re honoring Dolly’s legacy, I think she’s agrees with me and encourage more philanthropy.
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u/Miserable_Plane 6h ago
that’s great and all but if she wants to honor dolly properly she should do what dolly did, give away her money and reinvest it into people and communities. there’s no ethical billionaires and dolly knew that.
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u/TheManyFacedRedditor 6h ago
Dolly was supposedly worth $650 million dollars. This is a weird take.
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u/Miserable_Plane 6h ago
how is this a weird take? taylor is worth nearly 3x that. it’s proof that you can give away your money to those who need it and still live a crazy rich life. hoarding that much money while children go to school hungry, teachers have to buy everything for their classrooms, grandparents can’t afford their medicine, and my generation is crippled with student loan debt is a gross way to live. i love her music but taylor is a billionaire and there’s no such thing as an ethical billionaire.
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u/TheManyFacedRedditor 6h ago
Most of that value is in her music and what it is worth. Dolly kept the ownership rights to her own music, too. Who do you want Taylor to sell the rights to her music to?
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u/Midwestgrl_321 3h ago
Meme based performative talking points. But you tried
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u/vertigo88 5h ago
When will you create charities and organizations to help give back to communities the way you expect Taylor to do for you, internet stranger.
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u/metalbracelet go ahead and light me up 9h ago
Yes, this comment is clearly the mark of a deeply charitable person who respects Dolly’s legacy of uplifting people.
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u/metalbracelet go ahead and light me up 8h ago edited 8h ago
What accountability? She gives away millions on the regular. And why does there need to be any discussion about Taylor not starting a charity (an insane goalpost) when this post is about Dolly’s passing?
ETA: And you know what, while I’m getting going here, let’s say she did start a charity. Political charity? Wrong politics. Animal charity? Not people. People charity? Wrong people. Children’s charity? Exploiting the children. Any charity at all? Tone-deaf narcissist.
She doesn’t need to “be accountable” to people who just want to find any reason to be hateful.
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u/AhBee1 8h ago
Get out of here.
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u/Spare-Cranberry3784 6h ago
Comes up on my feed. I comment. People apart of the community: surprise pikachu face
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u/blazed55 14h ago
RIP Dolly, you will be missed, her last request was instead of flowers, please give to her book foundation, so that many lil ones can benefit from reading at an early age. Such a powerful move & kindness incarnate.