Remembering Dolly Parton: A Silver Fox Twin Tribute to a Country Music Legend, Dream Maker and Champion of Books

By Silver Fox Twin Roy L. Williams - Birmingham, Alabama

Some celebrities entertain us.

Some become part of the soundtrack of our lives.

And then there are people like Dolly Parton, who somehow manage to do both while leaving the world a little better than they found it.

Today, Tuesday, August 25, 2026, I am saddened by the news that Dolly Parton has died at age 80.

As a longtime Dolly fan, I couldn't let the day pass without sharing a few memories and reflecting on why her legacy means so much to me, especially her commitment to children and books (Something I am passionate about since I work in PR at the Birmingham Public Library).

My Dolly Connection Goes Back to College

I've been a fan of Dolly's music since my early college years. Like millions of other fans, I knew her as the larger-than-life country music superstar with the big hair, sparkling outfits, unforgettable personality and an incredible collection of songs.

But one Dolly song really surprised me.

I remember finding out that the original version of “I Will Always Love You” — the song that became a massive hit for Whitney Houston in the 1992 movie The Bodyguard — was actually written and recorded first by Dolly Parton.

That was one of those music-history moments that made me appreciate Dolly even more.

Dolly wrote and recorded the song in 1973, and it became a No. 1 country hit for her. Nearly two decades later, Whitney Houston's powerful version introduced the song to an entirely new generation.

Two incredible singers.

One unforgettable song.

And Dolly's songwriting at the heart of it.

One of Our Best Williams Family Vacations

But my connection to Dolly isn't just about music.

One of my favorite Williams family memories was taking our children Naja and Royce to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, when they were preteens.

And, of course, no trip to Pigeon Forge would have been complete without a visit to Dollywood.

It was our first time visiting the theme park, and it became one of those family vacations that stays with you long after the suitcases are unpacked and the kids grow up.

There's something special about seeing your children experience a place for the first time — watching their excitement, sharing the rides, laughing together and simply enjoying being a family.

Today, those kids are grown.

But memories like that don't grow old.

And when I think about Dolly Parton, that family trip to Dollywood will always be part of my personal Dolly story.

The Dolly Legacy That Means the Most to Me

As much as I appreciate Dolly the singer, songwriter, actress and entertainer, there is another part of her legacy that I admire even more: Books.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is one of the greatest examples of using fame and success to make a difference in the lives of children.

Dolly started the program in 1995 in honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write.

What began as an effort to provide books to children in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, eventually became a worldwide literacy movement.

Today, the Imagination Library provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth through age 5.

And the numbers are staggering.

The program has now gifted more than 325 million books to children around the world.

That's not just a lot of books.

That's millions of opportunities for children to discover new worlds, dream bigger and fall in love with reading.

That's the Dolly Parton legacy I especially appreciate.

Thank You, Dolly

So today, this Silver Fox Twin is tipping his hat to Dolly Parton.

Thank you for the music.

Thank you for the memories.

Thank you for the books.

And thank you for showing the world that success means even more when you use it to help others.

Rest in peace, Dolly. Your music and your legacy will live on for generations.