The nation has lost one of its superstars, and Tennessee has lost a great treasure. Yes, Tennessee has truly lost a great treasure and particularly East Tennessee with the passing of Dolly Parton. You know, so often when someone who has attained fame or had considerable accomplishments, you often hear it said about them that “they forgot where they came from.” That is a statement that could never be said about Dolly Parton. I can think of no one who started out with so little and rose to such great heights yet always, always remembered where she came from and gave back in general and in particular to that home area from which she came.

And in Dolly’s case it wasn’t a matter of looking back to see how far you had risen; it was a matter of looking back with love to your home area and giving back to them to raise them up and improve their life.

The foregoing is demonstrated in so many ways, significantly by her Imagination Library book program, which she implemented first in her home area and then expanded. Then if you will recall, several years ago when there were wildfires in her East Tennessee home area, the money she gave to the people to help build back the homes that they had lost.

I’m 81 years old, just a year older than Dolly and I can’t think of anyone that I know of in my lifetime who began her life with the limitations she had and she by her natural talent, determination and drive accomplished so much and reached such success, but at the same time always remembering where she came from and always giving back to the area to make sure it advanced with her.

Dolly always remembered where she came from, but she didn’t just remember, she continually gave back to that area, to its people, her people. There have been a lot of great people that came from Tennessee, in many fields and endeavors, but I can think of no one who signifies the rise that she did from poverty to international fame and success, but at the same time always working to improve the lives of the people of East Tennessee of the Pigeon Forge area. She was not only a beautiful person, but she had a beautiful soul and truly cared about the people in the Pigeon Forge area.

God Bless you, Dolly. You will always be missed, but never forgotten.

Robert Huskey

Manchester