It was a sad day yesterday when news broke that Dolly Parton had passed away at 80. From the coverage I have watched, she is being remembered not just for her talent but her generosity.

I have a few brief Dolly stories…

We were a Dolly Parton Imagination Library family that appreciated each month when a book arrived in our mailbox. Back in 2018 I praised the program and mentioned that the books we received from Dolly were some of Sloan’s favorites in her own personal library. We still have many of those books today.

Sloan “reading” the Dolly Parton Imagination book she received in the mail back in 2018 titled “Let’s Count.”

When Sidney and I visited Las Vegas in 2021, there was no doubt about it—the Dolly Parton slot machines were a highlight of our trip. Sid sought them out at whatever casino we entered and if she found a vacant Dolly machine I knew she was going to be there for a while. When Dolly was singing, Sidney was winning…I wish I heard just a little more singing.

Sid playing a Dolly Parton slot machine in Las Vegas in 2021. It was always a good sign when Dolly was singing!

And finally my favorite story came on Jan. 8, 2025. On this evening, I read Beau a biographical book titled “Dolly.” The pages were filled with kid-appropriate cartoonish illustrations but at the end of the book was an actual photo of Dolly Parton when she was a young child. The image was black and white and a little grainy. When Beau saw the old photo and used his reasoning skills, he asked a very sweet and innocent question.

“Is she in Heaven, daddy?”

Back in January 2025, Beau and I read “Dolly” (and “Everybody Tree” obviously 😂) and when we arrived at the end he asked a very cute question.

I told him “not yet” and explained that Dolly Parton was still alive.

Now that she has indeed passed, I don’t think Heaven is too far away for the lifelong Christian who made it her mission to serve others. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Dolly Parton. Don’t Blink.