Last night, I started watching Steel Magnolias. It is one of my favourite movies. There are so many great performances, but Dolly’s stands out for me because it felt so authentic and truthful. She was a Southern woman with a heart of gold. To learn that she passed away today, at the age of 80, makes my watching the movie last night feel like fate. And as you can see from social media, her death has touched so many. She was a symbol of goodness, of being true, of talent, and she touched countless lives. In a world so divided right now, it is heartening to see everyone rally around her passing and share how much she meant to them. That was her final request, that people share their memories of her, so as a fan, I am following suit.
When I was growing up, we watched a lot of variety shows. During the ’80s, many of them were built around country music. The Tommy Hunter Show was the Canadian staple. Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters was another we watched, but my favourite was simply titled Dolly. She had a rotating cast of guests, but at the end of each episode, she would sing her signature song, “I Will Always Love You.” The song is beautiful on every level: the lyrics, the melody, the sentiment. I always waited until the very last note.
Dolly’s warmth, generosity, and talent were an inspiration to everyone. For me, learning that she wrote “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day suggested a kind of divine inspiration, the kind that true talent can bring. “Jolene” is a song I never skip when it comes on. It has a melody that has never been replicated, and no matter how many covers exist, Dolly’s original always rings true. Her storytelling shines especially in that song.
And above all else, Dolly was a true performer in every sense: songwriter, singer, actress, producer, amusement park creator, philanthropist, the face of countless products bearing her name, and always true to her sense of glamour. When I learned the story behind “Coat of Many Colors,” and the poverty she endured growing up, I understood why she connected with so many people. My mom also made a lot of my clothes, because we couldn’t afford Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger when I was young, and I often felt different because of it. But now that my mom has passed, whenever I find a piece of clothing she made, I feel honoured and proud to have it, and to show it to my kids. The love and care in those clothes is an amazing legacy, and I felt that Dolly understood me through her song about her own special coat.
So thank you, Dolly, for being a light and inspiring light around you. We need some of that light right now, and your legacy has given us a path toward it.
But that’s just one Diva’s view.
Diva's View 