Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton turned 75 Tuesday.
The Tennessee native has spent more than 60 of her 75 years in the spotlight. Over those years, she’s accumulated 44 career Top 10 country albums, which is a record for any artist, 110 career-charted singles and a unique place in country music history.
As a philanthropist, Parton has raised millions through her Dollywood Foundation. She has also made literacy a priority with her “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” which has for decades ensured that thousands of children from birth to age 5 receive a book each month. She celebrated donating her 100 millionth book in 2018, when the Library of Congress celebrated her program.
Beyond the charitable work, Grammy awards and movie success, in such classics as “9 to 5″ and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” Parton has carved a space for herself in the realm of social activism. She has spoken out since the death of George Floyd, who died after being arrested and kneed to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer last year. She explained why the Black Lives Matter movement was essential in an interview with Billboard in August.
“I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen,” Parton told Billboard. “And, of course, Black lives matter. Do we think our little white (expletive) are the only ones that matter? No!”
In light of the tumultuous time since her last birthday, Parton made a special request to fans on her birthday Tuesday. She advised those reading a letter titled “Dolly’s Birthday Wish for Everyone” to work harder at unearthing love.”
The letter reads:
Well, another year has rolled around and what a year it has been. Like everyone else, it is now my turn for a COVID covered birthday. So what do you do? What do you want? Should you even celebrate?
I am choosing the quiet path so I can stay close to the ones I love to count my blessings and think hard about what this new year will bring.
However, I do have a birthday wish that I want to share with you. My wish is that everyone does something a little different today. Let's call it a call for kindness. If you want to donate to your favorite cause, then donate. If you want to give an old friend a call during these lonely times, give them a call. If you can safely volunteer, then raise your hand to do so. If you decide that today is the day you get a dog, then run down to the shelter and find your new buddy. The choices are limitless.
I always encourage people to dream big but I also take great care to follow that up with the message to work hard. We can't just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. We have to work to dig it out so we can share it with our family, our friends and our neighbors. So today, January 19th, let's get to unearthing love. Love is more contagious than a virus so let your best self shine in a glorious light and others will be inspired by you.
This is my birthday wish and may your birthday wishes also come true.
Since her last birthday, the reserved-yet-charismatic celebrity has been celebrated for her years of humility as she combated health crises, illiteracy and more without seeking name recognition for it. In 2020, it was revealed that her foundation donated $1 million to the vaccine research that would lead to Moderna’s vaccination for COVID-19.
Just last week, a Tennessee lawmaker, Democratic Rep. John Mark Windle, introduced a bill that aims to honor Parton “for all that she has contributed to this state” by placing a statue of the music legend at the Tennessee Capitol. Windle said the state capitol commission would solicit input to develop a plan for the statue, including its design, and he said it should face toward the Ryman Auditorium, where she sometimes performs.
“At this point in history, is there a better example, not just in America but in the world, of a leader that is (a) kind, decent, passionate human being?” Windle said Wednesday. “(She’s) a passionate person who loves everyone, and everyone loves her.”
Fans flocked to social media Tuesday to honor Parton on her special day and echo some of Windle’s sentiments.
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