God Did So Make Honky-Tonk Angels

God did SO make Honky-Tonk Angels, contrary to what country music icon Kitty Wells sang in 1952. He took the greatest of them all on August 25, 2026. Ms. Kitty was one of the musical forebears of Dolly Parton, and codified the plaintive and wailing voice of classic country female singers in the tradition of Mother Maybelle Carter’s “Wildwood Flower.” (1928).* Dolly Parton evolved from that lineage to create an otherworldly persona and force of nature in not only Country Music, but the zeitgeist of American culture. She was also “America’s Sweetheart.”

All the world is mourning the Queen of Tennessee. As a native of the Vol State, I’ve honored Dolly Parton as my Good Queen, and oh what a good queen she was. Dolly’s Imagination Library has given over 300M books to young children in the U.S. and various parts of the world. Billboard Magazine chronicled her history of philanthropy here, and some of the highlights include huge gifts to causes in healthcare, education, literacy, disaster relief, environmental causes and wildlife conservation. Dolly gave $million$ to a variety of causes beginning with donating royalties from “I Will Always Love You,” to improve and uplift an impoverished, Black neighborhood in East Nashville.

As with Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong before her; Dolly Parton’s popularity extended far beyond the music world into fashion, film, TV, literature, stage; and quiet, subtle political activism. Yes Dolly lived and exuded and personified the ultimate rags-to-riches story in Americana, but she was so much more.

Her wit and wisdom were on vivid display during her 1977 interview with TV journalist Barbara Walters, who asked her with great condescension, “Do you ever feel like a joke?” Dolly replied with her 10,000 watt smile saying, “The joke’s on the public, I know exactly what I’m doing and I can change it any time … I’m sure of myself. I’m sure of my talent.” Dolly was secure enough he her own soul and skin to lampoon her image in the song “Backwoods Barbie,” which is a stark contract to President t-Rump’s Nazi Barbies.

But it was more than an act. It was Dolly exuding and imparting her deep soul print every time she sang, acted or gave an interview. It was a rich soul print of kindness, sweetness, goodness, generosity, and spreading joy. Oh, I could go on with more modifiers.

Dolly’s often-covered “I Will Always Love You,” was penned not to a lover, but to her mentor, songwriting and duet partner, Porter Waggoner. He first “discovered” Dolly; and had her as a regular guest on his popular TV show. I always thought of him as the guy who singlehandedly kept Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in business, with his garish rhinestone-studded suits. But he was also the man who introduced Dolly to Tennessee and then America. When her sunbeam began to eclipse his star, she knew it was time to move out on her own, and that was their professional “break-up” song. But it was a great collaboration with the Trio of Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.

Through the thick makeup, bouffant wigs and colorful stage outfits, Dolly Parton was an unapologetic feminist, who wrote songs with both veiled and brazen messages about sexism, single-motherhood, and female independence such as, “When Possession Gets Too Strong,” “Just Because I’m a Woman,” and of course Dumb Blonde (“This dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool.”)

As for crossover appeal, here is the Queen of Nashville Country collaborating with one of the Queens of Memphis Soul, Mavis Staples. Her global appeal was illustrated when the Beefeaters struck up the brass to play “9-to-5” in front of Buckingham Palace to honor her memory.

People who dismissed her as a joke didn’t know the joke was on them. Dolly laughed to the bank and back, and then gave away $million$ to great causes. Though technically “politically neutral,” (“It’s Tennessee, Jake), the nature of her gifts and generosity spoke volumes about her passionate opposition to the MAGA agenda. Dolly personified all the acts and deeds of the spiritual goodness, which has been absent in our country under t-Rump. Her devotions weren’t about Democrats or Republicans, but about doing the right thing for humanity and the greater good.

Her Queen-in-Waiting Taylor Swift has been much more candid about her objections to the cruelty of t-Rrump, while following Dolly’s example of generosity, well-placed philanthropy, and spreading joy through music. Dolly has quietly worked to counter the MAGA agenda through her public generosity, giving away $million$ away to causes to support the “social safety net” destroyed by MAGA.

Sinatra was known as the Chairman of the Board because of his omnipresence in music, TV and film. That makes Dolly the Queen of the Board. People who dismissed her as a joke didn’t know the joke was on them. As her family stated in her obit, “Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience.” Dolly Parton’s greatness was beyond all blessings, praises, hymns and exaltations we can utter.