OPINION — There are many ways to measure the life someone lived. We can count the awards, money earned, companies built or the number of people who knew their name. But when Dolly Parton died at 80, she left behind a different kind of measurement. Her greatest legacy may be found in the people who were inspired to become kinder, more generous and more authentic because she showed them how.
During her life, Dolly Parton became one of the most recognizable people in the world. She wrote some of the most enduring songs in American music, became a successful actress and businesswoman, built Dollywood into a major destination and accumulated the kind of fame and wealth that can easily change a person. Yet somehow, she never seemed to lose the person she was before the fame arrived.
Fame and success bring choices. When people suddenly have money, influence and access — and demands placed on every minute of their lives — they can begin believing their own publicity. Some become consumed by power. Others become addicted to attention. Some surround themselves with people who tell them only what they want to hear. We have watched CEOs, athletes, entertainers and politicians rise spectacularly and then throw away what took years to build. Dolly Parton chose a different path. She remained Dolly.
