Monday Motivation: Dolly

With the passing of Dolly Parton last week, it truly felt like the world came together in a moment of mourning. Especially here in East Tennessee, Dolly was more than a legendary musician. In fact, her six-decade career was remembered secondary to her kindness and generosity. That's what made her so beloved. She loved openly. She did so much good with what she had:

• She established Imagination Library, sending children books every month for their first five years. More than 300 million books have been given. 
• She brought economic investment to the region through Dollywood and offered employees free tuition for higher education.
• She supported the school children of Sevier County, bringing the dropout rate down from 35% to 6% through incentives. 
• She supported Gatlinburg wildfire victims who lost their homes, giving families money for six months as they rebuilt. Her telethon raised another $13 million. 
• She poured the residuals from Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" into the black community of Nashville.
• She funded marching band uniforms for black schools.
• She established an eagle sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles. 
• She funded pediatric cancer and infectious disease research that led to the Moderna vaccine against COVID. 
• She gave more than $1 million toward disaster search-and-rescue and relief following Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. 
• And so, so much that never got the credit it deserved.

To be remembered for joy and kindness above all other accomplishments is a true blessing, and the world was blessed to have someone like Dolly. May her legacy and music continue to inspire others to live such a good life. 

"Better Get to Livin'"

"Coat of Many Colors"

"Jesus and Gravity"