“Now the night I graduated from Sevier County High School, back in 1964, we were all asked to stand up and talk about what we were going to do with the rest of our lives. And everybody had a different story. And when it came my time I stood right up there. I said I’m going to Nashville and I’m going to be a star. Well the whole place laughed out loud. And I was so embarrassed, cause I thought, ‘How odd. Why is everybody laughing? ‘Cause that is what I’m going to do.’ But as bad as I felt at that moment and as embarrassed as I was, it did not shake me from my dreams. So I guess I showed them, huh?”
– From her 2009 University of Tennessee, Knoxville commencement speech
Dolly Parton, 8 years old (tallest, front center) with her family
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
We lost a real one. Some people really leave a mark on the world, and Dolly certainly did.
Thanks for sharing that excerpt from her speech, Beth.
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she really did,indeed –
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Wishing her rest in peace. She’ll be missed by many.
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She did show them, and she led the way for many. (I also read she was the first in her family to graduate from high school.) 💙
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Who could not love Dolly? Despite her fame she was always so genuine, and she never forgot her roots. A really sad loss.
Best wishes, Pete.
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yes, exactly it, pete
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Best quote I’ve seen from her. I feel like I need to write a whole blog piece on holding on to one’s dreams but also of holding on to one’s integrity and love of fellow human beings too. I’m blown away that she was so so so lovely when at such a tender age she was treated so humiliatingly by her peers. An example to us all
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yes, i so agree
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She really was a wonderful person
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Sad loss, she’ll be always remembered. Great excerpt.
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one of my favorite humans as well
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This was very sad to hear yesterday in the middle of my work day. We all just stopped for a few minutes to share Dolly stories. What a life and legacy she leaves behind! And despite her tremendous success, so incredibly down to Earth.
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yes, such a great person, who left a great legacy
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What a life she had. What an impact she made. I am not a country fan at all, but I loved her.
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absolutely
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Rest in Peace Dolly 🙏
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What a wonderful human being Dolly was. May she rest in peace.
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yes
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She was such an inspiration and a caring woman.
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she sure was
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Yes. The world has dimmed.
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it absolutely has
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yes, a warm and generous human being, so talented; Dolly brought so much joy to the world :)
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yes-
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Just wonderful, Beth. I love what you chose to write about Dolly, and the photo. I chose her Imagination Library. She was such a loving person.
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she absolutely was
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💝💝💝
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Love 💕
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What a wonderful woman – dear Dolly 💞
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Dolly was a beautiful person, inside and out. We could all learn a thing or ten from her.
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the world lost a dear kind soul. For Dolly, people of all kinds mattered and deserved kindness. Thanks, Dolly, for all the kindness and joy you brought into the world. RIP
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she will! And she showed them all didn’t she? She was great! :-)
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Dolly was authentic, strong, caring, compassionate, generous, and many more qualities that made her a truly wonderful human being. May her legacy live on with all of us emulating the goodness of Dolly.
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Global icon who’ll be much missed
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I love this quote so much! While her story about how everyone laughed at her graduation ceremony made me sad I sure feel inspired by her refusal to let other people’s doubts influence her path. Such an icon.
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