[cleverwebble]

I grew up in a town called Seymour, which is in the same county as Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It's Dolly country. She's a hero - she's done so much for her community. Much of the money you spend at Dollywood goes to help so many public causes. One of them is the Imagination Library, which gives out free books every month from birth to 5 years of age. I was one of the first families that got to take a part in it. I certainly don't remember much from when I was 5, but I do remember getting those books. I imagine it had a positive impact on my growth.

We'd go to Dollywood a few times a year - she would give out free tickets to people who worked in Gatlinburg to go. It's really well run, and their water park is great too. Growing up, we'd ride the train when we visited. While I didn't appreciate it much as a kid, when I grew up I realized how awesome of an opportunity that was.. I moved away from Tennessee about 12 years ago, one of the biggest things I have missed is Dollywood and their big steam train.

[hirvi74]

Fellow native Tennessean here, as well.

Words cannot describe the love and admiration myself and the vast majority of Tennesseans have for Dolly Parton. She is the closest thing to a living Saint that many of us will ever witness.

[BlackjackCF]

Americans are divided on a lot of things, but Dolly is universally beloved.

[HenryBemis]

I discovered her music 'recently'. The 'imagination library' is a thing she has been doing for years, and I read about this on CNN or BBC or something like that, and I was deeply moved. When I read more about it (if I remember well) she started this initiative because her father couldn't read, and she wanted to make sure every kid has books to read. When I read that last part I thought to myself "shit.. this is a KIND person" (like wow!! she is a great human being!).

[devilbunny]

She bought the property that is now Dollywood specifically to provide both amusement and jobs to people in East Tennessee.

Imagination Library is mostly an umbrella organization that provides logistical support to the many, many locally-funded groups that actually send the books.

She's very kind, and apparently very charming and down-to-earth despite having a deity-quality voice, but she's also really smart and knows how to leverage her celebrity to help people.

If you've never listened to it, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMrfM711vXI - it's "Jolene", one of her most famous songs, but slowed down like it was a 45 RPM single played at 33 1/3 RPM like an LP. Not a single note is off, even that slowly.

[mig39]

You'll be happy to know that Imagination Library sent monthly books to my 3 Canadian kids as well! We loved every single one of them!