My big sister Dolly got her wings this past Tuesday. If anyone gets to heaven, I’m sure she made it right on time. I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way.
— Stella Parton, younger sister of Dolly
AS I write this tribute of love and gratitude to Dolly Parton on Sept 1, exactly a week after her passing on Aug 25, the news, messages of condolence and endearing tributes to Dolly continue to flood social media.
Yes, there was something very special about this petite country queen, affectionately regarded as a true American original.
Her passing has touched millions of people in the United States and, indeed, around the world – including Yours Truly, writing from the outback of Borneo.
I find that I even surprise myself by writing a tribute to an American country singer. I am not sure I have ever written one immediately after the passing of a superstar entertainer or movie star. Perhaps I have written something on the anniversaries of Elvis Presley or Bruce Lee, but never quite like this.
Dolly Parton is an exception.
Perhaps one reason is the extraordinary outpouring of respect following her death. President Donald Trump ordered the American flag to be flown at half-staff at federal buildings and other government facilities throughout the United States and at American diplomatic and military facilities abroad until sunset on Sept 1. Such an honour is normally associated with presidents and people of exceptional national significance.
Then came the proposal to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has backed the idea, describing it as a fitting tribute to a woman whose life is inseparable from the state.
Those gestures tell us something about the place Dolly occupied in the hearts of Americans. She was far more than a country singer. She had become part of the American story.
For me, however, Dolly’s story is much more personal.
As a music lover, her music and songs were very much a part of my adult life. Dolly began making a major impact in the early 1970s, and the 1970s and 1980s were particularly memorable years for her music. Those were also years when music was an essential part of our lives – when we listened to records, cassettes and radio, and waited eagerly to hear our favourite songs.
Dolly’s music somehow crossed boundaries. Admittedly, it is not always easy for guys to sing songs popularised by female artistes. But Dolly was different. Her songs resonated with both men and women because they were not merely “women’s songs” or “country songs”.
They were songs about love, heartbreak, loneliness, hope, hard work, dignity and the ordinary struggles of life. Who could forget “Jolene”, “9 to 5”, “Coat of Many Colours”, “Here You Come Again” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You”?
Some of us men may not have been brave enough to sing all of Dolly’s songs in public, but many of us certainly sang along when nobody was listening! That was Dolly’s magic. She could make the deeply personal feel universal.
But perhaps what makes Dolly’s passing especially poignant to me is that behind the rhinestones, big hair and larger-than-life personality was a deeply spiritual woman.
Dolly never appeared ashamed of her Christian faith. Her upbringing in a poor but deeply religious family in Tennessee remained an important part of
who she was. Gospel music, prayer, God and faith were recurring threads throughout her life and work.
Her nephew announced her passing with the words that Dolly had “lived in the light” and was “in the arms of Jesus.” For a woman whose faith was so central to her life, those words seem particularly fitting.
And then there was Carl Dean. In an entertainment industry where marriages can sometimes seem as fleeting as the latest hit song, Dolly’s loyalty and love for her husband were extraordinary. She married Carl in 1966 and remained devoted to him for nearly six decades until his death in March 2025.
Carl largely stayed away from the limelight. Dolly respected that privacy, and despite becoming one of the world’s most recognisable entertainers, she maintained a remarkably enduring relationship with the man she loved.
Now they are together again in Nashville. Dolly was laid to rest beside Carl at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in a private family service on Aug 28, fulfilling the poignant final chapter of a love story that had lasted almost 60 years.
From far away here in Borneo, I mourn the passing of a singer whose music accompanied so much of my adult life. But I do not want to remember Dolly merely with sadness. I want to remember her with gratitude.
Thank you, Dolly, for the songs. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, the inspiration and the memories. Thank you for reminding us that greatness does not require forgetting where we came from.
Dolly Parton was truly an American original – a remarkable songwriter, singer, entertainer, philanthropist and, above all, a human being who understood the power of kindness and generosity. Her legacy extends far beyond music, including her extraordinary work promoting children’s literacy through the Imagination Library.
So, from one grateful fan in the outback of Borneo to one of America’s most beloved daughters – Rest peacefully, Dolly.
Your voice may have fallen silent, but your songs will continue to live in our hearts and on our playlists. Thank you for nearly six decades of the best you had to offer in your music and songs.
You were truly an American original and a timeless icon. We will always love you, Dolly.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
