The death of Dolly Parton has prompted reflections on how the country music icon managed to connect with Americans from various political backgrounds. Parton, a rags-to-riches superstar, was known for her unique blend of humour, humility, and humanity.
Her organisation, Imagination Library, has given more than 330 million books to children worldwide. Parton founded it partly because her father could not read or write. She also raised money for a new hospital in her home county in Tennessee and offered awards to local teenagers.
Parton also contributed to funding Covid-19 vaccine research and promoted the vaccine, notably changing lyrics to her song "Jolene" to encourage vaccination. Despite this, she reportedly maintained broad appeal, with one essayist describing her approach as "radical acceptance."