A Word about Dolly
A Word about Dolly
As a teenager, growing up in East Tennessee, my family and I regularly watched Dolly Parton (as a teenager) perform on a local Knoxville television station. She was two years older than me (she still is), and we all knew she would be “big” some day–don’t ask me how we knew, but we did!
You may have seen the television special last December based upon her song, “Coat of Many Colors.” (Click on Dolly’s image, and you will see her singing this song at a much younger age.)
Last summer, our daughter and son-in-law treated us to a Dolly concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the “Mother Church of Country Music.”
I came away from that concert with three observations–observations that underscore why I am such a Dolly fan:
1. Her Genius–Her musical talent has few equals. She has written over 3000 songs, many of which have been recorded by dozens of artists. She has earned over 35 BMI Pop and Country Awards. During the concert, she played 10 different instruments with great ease and skill. Everyone could tell she was having a wonderful time on stage.
2. Her Genuineness–She has always been authentic and unassuming. She is able to comfortably laugh at herself, including her appearance and attire. One of my favorite Dolly lines is, “It costs a lot to look this cheap!” She loves her family, she loves her Tennessee roots and she is very comfortable being who she really is.
3. Her Faith–She talks about her faith without embarrassment or self-consciousness. It is purely and simply a major part of her identity. It has enabled her to live with very little and with very much! “Though we didn’t have much money, I was rich as I could be, in the coat of many colors my mama made for me.”
On Sunday, April 3, 2016, Dolly will receive the Tex Ritter Award. Click on the image below to see the announcement.
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