08/25/2026
Rest in Peace, Dolly Parton. ❤️
Today, we lost an American icon. Dolly Parton passed away at 80, leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond country music.
As an educator, I have always especially admired Dolly for what she did for children. Through the Imagination Library, she helped put books into the hands of millions of children and showed what can happen when we invest in literacy, imagination, and opportunity.
Her dedication to education was recognized in 2022, when the National Education Association honored Dolly with its Friend of Education Award for her extraordinary contributions to childhood literacy. It was a fitting recognition for someone who understood that giving a child a book can open a lifetime of possibilities.
Dolly never forgot where she came from. She used her success to lift others up, bring people together, and spread a little more kindness in the world.
Her music will live on, but so will the children who discovered a love of reading because a book arrived with Dolly's name on it. That may be one of the greatest legacies anyone could leave behind.
My thoughts are with her family, friends, and the millions of people whose lives she touched.
Rest easy, Dolly. Thank you for the music, the books, the laughter, and the kindness. ❤️📚🎶
— Anthony Pennock
Candidate for Michigan Senate District 18
Real leadership for working people.