They don’t make ‘em like they used to… I mean that sincerely. There is no artist alive today who will leave the legacy that Dolly Parton did. Most music today is slop, and even the “good” music is (mostly) devoid of real heart and soul, and it certainly won’t be remembered in 50+ years…

Dolly released “Coat of Many Colors” in 1971. Take a couple minutes and watch this video. You listen to it today and you get the same goosebumps folks did when they heard it over 50 years ago. The same happy-sad pang in your gut. You actually feel something. You feel her story. Her love for her mom, and her mom’s love for her. When you listen to her sing you know it’s true. She opens up part of her soul and shares it. What an incredible gift she gave us all.

She came from nothing and became one of the most iconic musicians that ever lived. She also gave back what she was given. Not because her agent told her it would be good PR or to virtue signal on Instagram, but because it was who she was.

To bring such joy to the world through music is out of reach for almost all of us. But to raise people up through our actions is something we all can and should strive to do, even if we fall far short of Dolly.

What a truly beautiful human and amazing life. Rest in peace, Dolly.