Happy 80th birthday to the legend that is Dolly Parton!
To celebrate this remarkable milestone, January 19 was declared Dolly Parton Day in Tennessee by its Governor, Bill Lee.
The country musician, philanthropist, activist, businesswoman, and undeniable icon is celebrating the occasion by re-releasing her 1977 hit, 'Light Of A Clear Blue Morning'. This time she is joined by Queen Latifah, country stars Reba McEntire and Lainey Wilson, and her god-daughter Miley Cyrus.
Revealing her plans on social media with a video, Dolly shared: “I wrote this song during a season when I was searching for hope, and fifty years later that message still feels just as true.
“As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward, especially by sharing it with some truly incredible women. Listen now at the link in bio. All net proceeds from this recording and music video will benefit pediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN.”
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in Tennessee in 1946 and rose from a childhood of poverty to become one of the most successful musicians of all time. One of 12, the billionaire has sold over 100 million records worldwide, written more than 3,000 songs and created some of the most recognisable hits in music history.Dolly, who was recently forced to prove on social media she was still alive after rumours of health problems surfaced, has always had star appeal that went beyond chart success. In 1995 she launched her Imagination Library, a programme that sends free books to children from birth to age five. To date, it has gifted more than 200 million books worldwide, helping children develop a love of reading regardless of their background.In 2016, following the catastrophic wildfires in Tennessee, Dolly established the "My People Fund" (Disaster Relief) fund. This provided $1,000 per month for six months to families who lost their homes.Known for her refreshing honesty, talent, humour and inclusivity, Dolly has also been outspoken on issues ranging from LGBTQ+ rights to racial equality. She once said: “I never thought I was beautiful. I was 5ft 2in when I was 12 and I haven’t grown an inch since.“I wanted to be pretty more than anything in the world. I’m a little-bitty person. It’s just that my boobs look so big hanging on such a little person!”Despite Dolly’s biggest hits topping the charts in the 70s and 80s, in recent years she’s seen a renewed wave of popularity with younger generations. She’s collaborated with pop stars including Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, and Post Malone, appeared in viral moments (“I ain't dead yet!"), and donated $1 million to help fund the early, critical stages of development for the Covid-19 Moderna vaccine.Sadly, this will be the first birthday since Dolly’s beloved husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died, aged 82. While Carl stayed out of the limelight, quietly running his Tarmac business, the couple stayed devoted to eachother.Dolly once revealed, “I like flirting. It’s an open relationship but not sexually and I would kill him if I thought he was doing that. He would shoot me too. At the end of the day, we love each other madly.” One of Dolly’s most famous songs, Jolene, was penned after a woman at their local bank paid Carl too much attention.Reflecting on her long life and recent loss, Dolly said, “People say, ‘How do you stay looking so young?’. I say, ‘Well, good lighting, good doctors, and good make-up’. I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life.“I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world.“I’ve had heartaches, headaches, toothaches, earaches, and I’ve had a few pains in the ass, but I’ve survived to tell about it.”Happy 80th birthday, Dolly. We love you!