26/08/2026
She spent her life putting her considerable power behind women and girls, starting with the sisters she helped raise and continuing to move through the wild that way, no matter how rich or famous she became.
‘9 to 5’ gave a global voice to women dealing with unequal pay, harassment and workplaces designed by and for men.
She fought for ownership of her own work, built businesses on her own terms, backed female-led stories and showed generations of women what financial independence could look like.
Then she put the money to work.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS (literally) of free books for children through the Imagination Library (Dolly’s book gifting library). Education funding and scholarships. Full tuition for Dollywood employees. Millions invested in healthcare and medical research.
Dolly never needed to package any of this as empowerment. She created access, opportunity and independence, then she got on with it. For a consummate performer, she was anything but performative.
A kind, wise and formidable woman, hiding in plain sight behind the rhinestones, big hair and seriously funny one-liners.
This is one of those days where I’ll never forget where I was when I heard.
You’ll be sorely missed, Dolly. What a legacy. 🤍