08/26/2026
Celebrities are an ingrained part of our culture, for better or worse. Their songs, movies, plays, their talent and what they offer in their art often resonate deeply with us. They sometimes reflect on our own heartbreak, joy and our shared humanity. We sometimes idolize them, we put them on pedestals..it's not an industry for the faint of heart. I sit here tonight with tears and silence as I remember listening to Dolly Parton on my mons 8 track tapes mom kept in her 1977 Monte Carlo. I'd listen to these songs while waiting in the car at the laundrymatt because we couldn't afford a washer or dryer. Dolly sang about hardships my grandparents faced, she sang about things my parents related to and she sang things I understood, like going to school and being bullied for wearing 2nd hand clothes because we couldnt afford name brand. Even in grade school I remember crying when hearing "Coat of many colors" because I knew what it felt like to be taunted and know that, on some level my folks did their best with what little we had. Dolly was a force. She was a fearless ally for the q***r community, for women and for children. The fact that she was also a phenomenally talented story teller and song writer makes what she gave the world even more immeasurable. She loved deeply, she didn't take any s**t, she knew her worth and she wanted everyone else to as well. When treasures like Dolly are a part of our culture, our lives and our understanding, pay attention to that. Pay attention to how they make you feel. So, Dolly, from that little boy in the red Monte Carlo at the laundry Matt: Thank you.
