Hello Dolly!

If you think that Dolly Parton has been in the news a lot lately, you are right. Her most recent newsworthy venture was to donate 1 million dollars to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in honor of her longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD, and professor of surgery at the medical center. In April, Abumrad mentioned to Parton that funds were needed to advance the study of a promising vaccine being developed by Moderna. Parton’s gift helped advance that study to the point where Moderna received a government grant that ultimately led to the highly touted vaccine which is ready for roll out. Parton went on the talk show circuit as soon as Moderna announced the success of the vaccine.

Dolly Parton, aside from being an extremely talented songwriter and singer, is a highly successful business woman and investor. She has shared her wealth with Vanderbilt in the past to honor her niece’s successful treatment there for childhood leukemia. Parton also aided families in the Gatlinburg area after a deadly wildfire devastated homes and businesses a few years ago. Her Imagination Library has given thousands of books to rich and poor children alike in order to advance literacy.

Certainly, Dolly Parton has never forgotten where she grew up or the struggling people who live in that area of rural East Tennessee. Sarah Marsh, author of Heartland, has written a short but insightful biography of Parton entitled She Come By It Natural. Marsh, a woman who also survived growing up poor, traces Parton’s life from the time she was born the fourth of 12 siblings to the present. The author also discusses the many iconic songs Dolly Parton wrote, songs that tell the story of her life

She Come By It Natural was released in October and would be a great gift for anyone who appreciates Dolly Parton, maybe now more than ever before!!