“My
coat of many colors that my mama made for me,
Made
only from rags, but I wore it so proudly.
Now
I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be.
In
my coat of many colors my mama made for me.”—Grammy-winning country-music
singer-songwriter Dolly Parton (1946-2026), title tune from her Coat of Many Colors LP (1971)
There’s
a reason why Dolly Parton was remembered not just with respect for her
talent, but even with love for her personality: she was so transparently down
to earth. She never forgot where she came from: Locust Ridge, TN, in a tiny log
cabin with her parents and 11 siblings, but without electricity or running
water.
There
will certainly be those who say that she achieved success through hard work. No
argument from me there. But I think it’s also fair to say that, despite what
some cynics say, you don’t have to step on other people’s toes to get ahead in
life. Her career proved that, too, in abundance. (The
image accompanying this post, of Dolly Parton accepting the Liseberg Applause
Award 2010, was created on Nov. 16, 2010, by Curtis Hilbun.)
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