For Dolly 💗📚

I’m genuinely heartbroken that Dolly Parton passed away today.

As a small-town country girl from West Virginia, Dolly has always felt like a little piece of home to me. She came from practically nothing and never tried to erase where she came from not her accent, not her family, not the poverty she grew up in, none of it. She was loud, sparkly, hilarious, and deeply kind and giving. I’ve always loved her for that.

Just today, her music had me looking through pictures of my grandparents’ old house in West Virginia and dreaming about buying it back someday. I sat there imagining turning my grandpa’s old office into my own office and having my whole family together there again. It made me realize that I finally have a real dream because her go-getting spirit made something that big feel possible.

Her family has asked that instead of sending flowers, people donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the program that sends free books to children.

I know Dolly of all people would understand that you give what you can. I hope my little donation joins a whole lot of other people’s little donations and puts some books into the hands of a small-town kid with enormous dreams.

If Dolly ever made you smile, made you feel proud of where you came from, or reminded you that being soft and kind doesn’t make you weak, please consider donating even if it’s only a dollar. There’s absolutely no pressure, and no amount is too small.

Donate here: https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com

Rest easy, Dolly. 💗📚