In my long career as a journalist and producer, I’ve had the good fortune to meet, interview, and spend considerable time with world leaders, celebrities, movie icons, rock stars. With very few exceptions, each of these people was truly bigger than life. And a few were even bigger surprises: they were also real. And at the top of that very short list: Dolly Parton.
I had the pleasure of cohosting a television special with her a few years back, and I was immediately struck by her self-effacing authenticity. She was genuine. Her sincerity wasn’t contrived. Her generosity of spirit was limitless. And she never forgot where she came from.
In fact, that was the essence of the television special we did…she took me back to East Tennessee, where she was born, to tell her remarkable story, her fascinating trajectory. The show was called “Take Me Home.”
And indeed…she took me home.
And along the way, we stopped by the studio where she cut her first album. I played the piano. She sang. And then, one of my most memorable highlights. In Nashville, we went to the Grand Ole Opry, then the Ryman Auditorium, and then, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the two of us walked in and sang an impromptu duet — the song: “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
And when it was over, she looked at me, giggled, and, as she always did, she told the truth: “You sure ain’t no singer,” and we both laughed as we put our arms around each other.
Now that Dolly is gone, in the days and weeks ahead, many stories will inevitably be told of her quiet and unpublicized acts of kindness, charity, and support. And many might be surprised by just the body of her songwriting work alone — she wrote more than 3,000. Hers is an amazing legacy that will continue to evolve even after her passing.
But one thing is clear: Dolly was a unifying force. In a world where we all seem divided, she was common ground, the living focal point of agreement. No blue states or red states. Just the continuing state of wonderment we all had at her everlasting talent and compassion.
Dolly Parton’s circle will never be unbroken.
