Former President Barack Obama admitted during Stephen Colbert’s recent interview that a big oversight during his time in the country’s highest political office was not presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dolly Parton.
It is hard to believe that this seminal entertainer who has earned a plethora of awards, including ten Grammys, has not been so honored.
But the truth is Dolly Parton is not only a national treasure but an international one as well. She is a gift to the world.
Her recent television Christmas special reminded everyone of her obvious talent. Not only is she a phenomenal songwriter, talented musician, top notch singer, and exceptional performer, but she is a great human being as well.
Let me count a few of the ways:
Literacy. Dolly has provided more than 100 million books through her Imagination Library. The program gives free books to children from birth to age five not only in her native United States but in at least four other countries as well.
On her special she related a heart-warming story about how her father could not read well which instilled in her the importance of literacy.
Public health. It was announced in April that she had donated $1 million to help develop a vaccine to battle Covid-19.
Natural disaster relief. In 2016 the Dollywood Foundation donated $1,000 per month to families impacted by devastating wildfires in Tennessee.
Economic development. Her Dollywood theme park opened in 1985 in East Tennessee has had a billion-dollar annual impact on the local economy. In acknowledging that impact she is the queen of understatement.
“Any little part that I can play that might help this county makes me feel like I’m doing something for Mom and Daddy and for my family and bringing honor to them,” she told an area news station in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Dollywood.
As she reminded us in her special, she comes from humble beginnings which may explain why she channels her success to help where she can. Hearing her talk about her modest childhood, it seemed as though her mother’s comment that she had a good heart due to the simple acts of kindness and selflessness she demonstrated at an early age was the honor she most treasured.
After such a long an illustrious career, she recently added another title: hero. While working on a movie she reportedly saved her nine-year-old costar from certain injury and possibly death by pulling her out of the way of an approaching vehicle.
Dolly seems so down to earth that it is difficult to believe she is of this earth.
Maybe she is an angel.