This week, communities are grieving the death of country icon, community champion, and philanthropist Dolly Parton. Throughout her career, the 80-year-old style icon became a beloved figure in pop culture. However, the “Jolene” singer held a special place in the hearts of Black communities for a number of reasons. While many recognized her for bold, often bedazzled, sartorial choices and her country catalog, Parton was known for giving back, especially to underserved communities.
For instance, after Whitney Houston covered her 1974 song “I Will Always Love You,” Parton used some of the $10 million she received in royalties to invest in a Black neighborhood in Nashville. Purchasing a commercial complex in the area, the country singer said she considered it “the house that Whitney built.” Similarly, she was a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, and reportedly spent years donating band uniforms to high schools in Tennessee.
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