Michael Diton-Edwards Pure 17 August 27, 2026
I am not worthy of even typing of what I am about to, so please forgive me…but, alas…I am not even CLOSE to on par with the person that Dolly Parton was…OMG, I couldn’t even measure up to her prior to any plastic surgeries (sorry…if you have read my articles, you know I had to keep it real by making fun of the obvious – no disrespect intended, just funnin’, folks, save the hate please)… Dolly Parton, literally, set the bar higher than anyone could ever surpass. Her talent, okay, yep, pretty awesome, but her BEING is not about her ability to sing, write, act, and perform…no. Dolly’s true talent was found in her, well, in her just being her. Dolly wasn’t special beyond the commercializing or the music or whatever. No, Dolly was special on the opposite end of that type of quantification – Miss Dolly was BEYOND SPECIAL because she was purely, plainly, and purposefully REAL and GENUINE.
Beyond the rhinestones and the hair and the plastic surgery, this was a woman that grew from a girl with a dream in her heart and a belief in her path. Dolly always wanted to ‘make it big’ and even when performing as a young child, her stage presence defied the norm for her years and upbringing. There was just, I don’t know, just something…a spark…a magnificent attraction…ahhhh, there was a LIGHT! An undeniable light radiated from her and surrounded her…it wasn’t just her voice or her look or her presence, it was that LIGHT! Oh, and guess what? Like that special QB or Pitcher or magical football player with the name of Lionel Messi, there are just certain individuals that have an ability to transcend the norm – to break a mold, cast a new one, and recreate the definition of GOAT, of all-time greatness! So few in sports have ever been worthy of consideration for a Mount Rushmore in their lane, and to even be considered amongst the best of the best is honor enough, I would think! So you have your names you will immediately nominate as GREATNESS (no…sorry…no…Diego Pavia…no…never…no chance…sorry…no….), but when it comes to Country Music and combined Entertainment, there aren’t many, if ANY, that can trump Dolly (with respect to Bob Greeson, my friend who was never ‘discovered’ but had more talent in his little left toe than most Aldeans, Sheltons, and Smucker Roles ever). Seriously. Dolly was the rightfully anointed “Queen of Country Music” and the crown did not tarnish upon her wigs.
Dolly Parton transcends debate when it comes to talent, success, and impact upon a genre. Period. Her passing leaves a void in the entertainment world. Period. Her fingerprint upon this world’s joy of music beyond just Country Jamboree stompin’ cannot be denied as anything less than magnificent, inspirational, and divine. Period.
But you know what? The world shouldn’t miss Dolly Parton and shouldn’t mourn her due to her writing or performing talents. Nope. There are others that will rise up and reach fame and contribute to our need for entertainment, that is undeniable. Dolly’s passing will not mean that the world will miss out on creativity and songs and levity and moments of happiness when it comes to music or food or discounted bedding at Target 4 months after the initial launch of her luxury bedding line. Dolly will ultimately be missed for one reason, and one reason only…
Dolly Parton gave the world LIGHT.
You may define ‘light’ differently than I do, but for me, ‘light’ means that you have the ability to emit joy, love, and kindness. Seriously. If a person has a light about them, they make a difference to everyone around them. Guess what? Dolly was not the only person in the world that had that type of impact; she had a bigger platform than we do, that is certain, but she wasn’t the only person with a light… We mourn her passing because we KNOW we will miss her light – her philanthropy, her ability to inspire, her magical smile that gave hope to anyone that doubted they could find a way out of their current situation and reach the pinnacle of their dreams…Dolly had that light…Dolly had the type of light that was as uncommon as my fantasy baseball teams of getting more than 4 collective hits on any given gameday…but seriously, Dolly Parton was more magical and special and beautiful than even her talent showed because it all came from within as a real, true, genuine source of LIGHT.
We mourn her passing. No matter where you live or whether or not you like ‘9 to 5’ or Steel Magnolias or country music, you KNOW who this magnificent lady was…she touched the world in a special way…she is, I believe, the closest thing we have to an Universal Queen for our society, our past couple of generations. Yep…she was special…she will be missed…she is mourned in a seriously impactful way much like Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, JFK, etc… Dolly Parton will be missed…her light will be missed…
Guess what though?
Her light is not gone.
Dolly’s light shined bright enough to not only cause the world to see her and love her, but it shined enough to inspire and guide the way for all of us to follow…
Dolly may have passed…but her LIGHT – the purpose of her being that drove her to achieve stardom not for fame’s sake but for HUMANITY’s sake, that LIGHT still exists and cannot ever be extinguished if you – if we – if I – will honor the joy and kindness, will continue to share the passion upon the beating of butterfly wings, and will never forget that love is forever…joy is forever, kindness is forever…
Dolly Parton’s light is forever. You represent that light, and it is up to all of us to continue to be that joy and love and kindness…to be the light for all of us…
Peace 🙂 mditon.edwards@gmail.com is my email…I invite discussion and debate, but ALWAYS value your support and dialogue 🙂 Please continue to support my platform at South Florida Tribune, https://southfloridatribune.com/category/scott/michael-edwards/, and thank you in advance for sharing with others 🙂
