Greetings, all.
I'm not going to lie. This really hits me hard. And I am sure that you feel the same way, too. I've been weeping intermittently, all day long yesterday and now again today... every time I recount this sad, sad news, a fresh wave of sorrow and tears envelopes me.
*** We lost a precious angel on Tuesday, August 25th. Yes, I said angel, because that is what Dolly Parton genuinely was. She was the real thing: she walked it like she talked it. A public figure, a singer, songwriter, actress, literacy advocate for children and overall, a humanitarian like no other. The epitome of what a human being should be.
*** I owe Dolly a huge debt of gratitude on so many levels, I can't even begin to list it properly here. Not only for graciously giving me a special interview, as well as allowing me to use her beautiful song "These Old Bones" in my Fall 2021 issue of the magazine, but most importantly, for the gift of her bright light of LOVE, that which permeated the world and blasted the darkness away. You could not ever listen to her, or watch her, or read about her, and feel badly in any way. It just wasn't possible; she radiated positivity and she unselfishly shared it with us all. She made our world a much better place as result of just being HERSELF.
*** I was at a meeting earlier that day at our local radio station Hippie Radio 94.5, with my dear friend and Halloween cohort Vance, when we heard the sad news. As many of you know, Vance has worked for Dolly for many years. It was a moment of utter disbelief. It felt as if all the air went out of the room, and then everything went dreadfully silent. Dolly was not merely just his boss, she was his friend. What do you do when you get the news that your beloved friend has passed on... I choke up recalling this moment, as we looked at each other with pure shock in our eyes. It's going to be a mournful memory for years, remembering exactly where I was, what I was doing, with whom, when I learned of her death. Much in the same awful way that I recall exactly where/what when John Lennon passed away... and Robert Kennedy Sr... the space shuttle... my parents. This pain is terrible.
*** I absolutely hate this... can't get my head nor heart wrapped around it. It wasn't supposed to happen! Dolly was supposed to live forever, and continue to shed her loving light all over us with her songs, her wonderful sense of humor, and with her unending well of kindness.
Dolly Parton - January 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026
***I have a special memory I'd like to share with everyone. It happened a few years ago. I had the opportunity to work on one of her TV specials, Dolly Parton's Pet Gala (which aired on US television February 21, 2025). Vance brought me along to help him with set design. When Dolly entered the room, I swear the atmosphere was charged with a rare electricity. I could not take my eyes off of her... she was a supernatural being, perfect, exquisite... and tiny! Her petite stature in person belied the giant you saw in photos and videos. And this is in spite of wearing her signature 6-inch high spike heels. I was mesmerized!
*** As she was being seated to be filmed for her interview, she first stopped and said hello to all the staff, the camera & lighting women and men, each and every person who was there. I stood about ten feet away, to the side of one of the main cameras. She looked into my eyes and smiled that famous radiating smile at me. I felt her electric energy shoot through my head and out my feet.
*** It is that beautiful smile that I will forever see in my mind's eye. Thank you, Dolly. Thank you for everything. I love you.
***Here's the lovely video interview Dolly did exclusively for Autumn Brilliance. I enjoyed her candor, relating of what it was like growing up in the Smoky Mountains and her love for the autumn and Halloween, but especially love what she said about possibly working with Elvira ... that is something that I -and so many others! - would have loved to have seen.
❤️
No comments:
Post a Comment