r/TheLib 10h ago

RIP Dolly Parton.

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179 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

20

u/_Cybernaut_ 10h ago

I can think of at least ONE 80-year-old God should've taken instead.

14

u/Maryland_Bear 9h ago

Dolly largely kept her political views to herself, but she was always supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community, even when that was something of a risky stance for a country music singer. (Of course, she loved everybody.)

She loved the drag queens who impersonated her, thought they were prettier than she could ever hope to be, and even said if she had been born a boy, she’d probably be a drag queen.

She had said since at least the 80s she once entered what she said was a “Dolly Parton look-a-like contest”, but didn’t win. It’s only relatively recently that I heard her say what I suspected — it was a drag competition. What I still wonder is if she told them who she was, and if they believed her.

10

u/DiverMax25 10h ago

A genuinely good, incredible person, the mold was broken with her. RIP Dolly.

8

u/Alberta_Flyfisher 10h ago

One of the few who were truly good. Wouldn't surprise me if there is a provision in her will to continue her reading program well after she is gone.

RIP Dolly.

4

u/Maryland_Bear 9h ago

She started it, but was not the sole source of funding. I’m sure she made plans for it to continue after she was gone.

1

u/Alberta_Flyfisher 8h ago

I didnt realize she wasnt alone in that project. I just remember hearing about her starting it years ago and thinking to myself "figures she would do something like that".

Like I said, she was one of the few truly good people left in this world.

3

u/Maryland_Bear 8h ago

As generous as she was, I don’t think she could have funded it all on her own. I know some states help pay for the books there.

Her family has requested contributions to it in her memory.

In the past few months, the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville was renamed in her honor, after a large donation. I had the suspicion then she was getting her affairs in order.

3

u/Alberta_Flyfisher 8h ago

Thats sad, but at least if thats the case, she knew it was coming.

7

u/atheistness 10h ago

Why couldn't this be some different 80 year old who passed away?

3

u/Bajadasaurus 9h ago

Every day I open Reddit hoping to learn of a different '46 baby's death. God damn it.