Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, has died at 80. The Star wants to know how she touched your life over the decades.
Whether you fell in love with her early duets with Porter Wagoner, cheered for her working-woman anthem 9 to 5, drew inspiration from how she inspired generations of drag queens to don wigs that took them closer to God, or applauded her shrewdness when she turned down Elvis to keep her song rights, paving the way for Whitney Houston’s legendary cover of “I Will Always Love You,” her impact was immeasurable.
Parton was a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose influence echoes through today’s powerhouses like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. But her reach went far beyond the stage: she championed childhood literacy through her Imagination Library, boosted her hometown’s economy with Dollywood, and won over generations with her razor-sharp wit, legendary interview moments and quiet generosity.
Which part of Dolly Parton’s life and music inspired you the most? Share your memories, stories, and tributes with us below in the comments.
