Pre-empting our Lunchroom today for a special concert from the iconic, one-of-a-kind, immortal Dolly Parton, who passed away earlier today at the age of 80.
This concert comes from a collector who attended this concert, held at Dolly Parton’s old High School, Sevier County High on the evening of October 6, 1979. It’s been tucked away and more or less forgotten about, these past 47 years. It’s currently available via You Tube even though it appears to be a pretty rough VHS copy. Still . . .
It’s safe to say Dolly Parton has become irrevocably linked with the heart of America – her songs have spanned genres and she’s been celebrated throughout the world, not only for her music-making but her groundbreaking work as a spokesperson, activist and general humanitarian.
She sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists ever. Parton’s music includes Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. 25 of her singles reached No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, tied with Reba McEntire for the most by a female artist. She had 44 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and 110 career-charted singles over 40 years. Her 49th and final solo studio album, Rockstar (2023), became her highest-charting Billboard 200 album, peaking at number three.
Parton composed more than 3,000 songs, including “I Will Always Love You” (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper and an international hit for Whitney Houston that sold 40 million copies worldwide), “Jolene“, “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5“. As an actress, she starred in 9 to 5 (1980) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), earning Golden Globe nominations for both, as well as Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992), and Joyful Noise (2012).
Since the mid-1980s, Parton supported many charitable efforts, particularly in the area of literacy, primarily through her Dollywood Foundation. Her literacy program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is a part of the Dollywood Foundation, was founded in honor of her father, who never learned to read or write. It mails one book per month to each enrolled child from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten. Over 1,600 local communities provide the Imagination Library to almost 850,000 children each month across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.[230] In February 2018, she donated her 100 millionth free book, a copy of Parton’s children’s picture book Coat of Many Colors, to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.[233] and was honored by the Library on account of the “charity sending out its 100 millionth book”.
In February 2025, Indiana governor Mike Braun declined to continue a state 50% match for Parton’s Imagination Library. Dollywood Foundation President Jeff Conyers said, “We are hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs.” Braun would soon afterwards task his wife Maureen with finding ways to keep the Imagination Library’s Indiana chapter alive.
For her work in literacy, Parton received awards including the Association of American Publishers Honors Award (2000), Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval (2001), and Parents as Teachers National Center – Child and Family Advocacy Award (2003).
Tributes have been pouring in – so take a break and listen to Dolly Parton from 1979.
She will be missed.
Or:
