The Tailwinds of Dolly Parton

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LISTENING: to all the dolly songs I've missed!
FEELING: ready for lunch
SEEING: magazine clippings pile up on my desk

I walked through the cemetery today to commune with the dead. I saw headstones that read "Light" and "Rogers." I thought of all the souls no longer on this plane. Where are they now? I don't believe in heaven or hell. I believe in the divine transition of energy. That as we die, our souls go somewhere else. Maybe they become something else. I think I'd like to return as a dandelion growing wild in a yard. Or a park. Or a grave.

Dolly Parton died Tuesday. She was 80 years old. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I've never spent much time with her music. Country music has never been my thing. Of course, I know the classics. Who doesn't? But I've been listening today. Studying. Reading. Trying to absorb all I can from this icon and all the ways she imbued more love into the world. Isn't that what's at the heart of our? Love?

She grew up in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, always sharing with others how special this place is.

In a 2022 National Geographic interview, Parton said:

"The Smokies have a heart of their own. It’s the way the water flows, the way it sounds, and the way it feels when you get in it. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s my home — but I really don’t think so. I think it’s just one of those special places that God put here for us to enjoy.”

During her years on Earth, she even invested in wildlife rehabilitation. The American Eagle Foundation has a sanctuary at Dollywood, Parton's namesake theme park and resort in Tennessee. She went on to tell NatGeo: "We should pay more attention. We’re just mistreating Mother Nature — that’s like being ugly to your mama. We need to take better care of the things that God gave us freely. And that we’re so freely messing up.” 

What I've found so inspiring about Parton, however, is her endless well of empathy. It didn't end at our winged kin or mountains. She extended her care to humanity, something that feels rare in the world of celebrity these days.

She supported queer and trans people. She stood with the Black community. I imagine she'd be roaring with anger about the predominantly Black community of Gary, Indiana, that has been without power since storms devastated their region weeks ago. She never said anything politically, but I like to think that she grieved with us over Israel's genocide in Gaza, which is ongoing despite the radio silence on our feeds.

I could be wrong about her stance on those issues. But I do know this: USA TODAY reports that Parton donated to local relief efforts when Hurricane Helene hit in 2024. She gave $1 million then. And also during the 2021 floods, the 2017 hurricane season, and the 2016 wildfires. She was generous with her wealth. Not enough rich people are.

Ironically enough, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring an Atlantic system that might become the next named tropical storm: Dolly. I believe in reincarnation. Maybe this is how Dolly returns — in a gentle fury. If the storm is anything like her, though, it won't cause harm. It might make a mess, but hopefully it just brings the Caribbean the rain it needs to get through its awful drought.

As Parton has famously said: "If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain." 🌀

Currently Reading

My dear friend Justine Calma is back from maternity leave, covering a study on extreme heat exposure for The Verge.

I'm a big fan of Justin Pearson, so I read any and every story about him and his tremendous work in Memphis. Ariel Wittenberg writes about his battle against data centers for POLITICO.

The book-eating, evil AI machine fiasco just gets worse. 404 Media's Emanuel Maiberg has the tech story everyone needs to read.

I try to read everything Justin Worland writes. In one of his recent TIME newsletters, he digs into the harsh health realities of wildfire smoke (even for those of us who should know better).

Jessica Kutz with an important story for the 19th about the erasure of women's and LGBTQ+ history from national parks: "If people go to these sites and expect to see the full history, and they’re not seeing that, then that is a missed opportunity for so many people."

Few reporters are committed to the EJ beat like Adam Mahoney is. For the anniversary of the Roseland oil disaster, he talks to families still reeling.

Art

- Yessenia xx