DOLLY PARTON: COUNTRY LEGEND AND CULTURAL ICON

News of Dolly Parton’s death circulated the news on Sept. 25, shocking fans of all generations. 

The country music star and style icon known for her hit songs “9-5” and “Jolene” as well as her big hair, bright lips and sassy personality left shock waves throughout the country.

Parton’s rise to fame began with her move to Nashville, Tennessee, the city that’s seen many country stars rise. In Nashville, Parton’s career gained momentum, being discovered for her talent and charisma and eventually becoming a famous actress, singer and songwriter. 

Parton’s small-town Tennessee roots showed in her style, became a signature for her throughout her lifetime. Her long acrylic nails and big blonde hair became recognizable. She referred to her own style as a “country girl’s idea of glam” in her 2008 song “Backwoods Barbie”. Her style, featuring tight tops, flashy colors and lots and lots of denim, truly was the definition of country glam.

Parton may not have seen herself as a fashion icon, sarcastically saying, “I would never stoop so low as to be fashionable,” in a 1977 interview with Barbara Walters, joking about her unique style. To many people out there, however, her style and legacy are something to admire and model. 

Outside of her life as a country star, Parton dedicated her life to numerous noble causes and even built her own enterprises. 

Dollywood is a well known amusement park in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, built by and named after Parton herself. 

One of her greatest achievements lies in her Imagination Library, through which she has inspired thousands of children’s love for reading by providing them with the resources they needed to get started. The Imagination Library inspired a passion for reading, learning and creativity for so many children thanks to Parton. 

Parton also acted as a role model for numerous young female stars, including her god-daughter Miley Cyrus and country star Shania Twain. Many young listeners have been introduced to Parton’s unique voice and country twang through duets with younger music stars like Sabrina Carpenter and many times throughout the years with Miley Cyrus. 

While we may have lost a cultural icon, her legacy remains with us in her lyricism, her philanthropy, her charm and her uniquely her own style.