To think Dolly Parton was some sort of prophet or philosopher

It's sad that with everything she achieved you are only focused on her appearance.

The boobs and wigs made her an icon.

But I'm thinking the boobs were removable, rather than surgery, like the hair put in a cupboard when she had time off.

So she'd look totally different lying on a beach somewhere.

Because Dolly didnt take herself seriously, she took her art seriously. Madonna takes herself way too seriously, has no humour, is trying to be something she isnt. Dolly was just herself.

You could say the same about her

Yep
love it when asked about how long it takes to do her hair and she replied honey I don’t know I’m not there 😂😂

and her famous quip - it takes a lot of money to look this cheap 😂

It was the local prostitute 😂 she was the best dressed woman in the town
Dolly thought she looked fabulous and wanted to look like her when she grew up 😂

I don't know but I feel absolutely the same. I'm totally against cosmetic surgery in all cases but Dolly, she was just perfect so she can do whatever she wants.

Thats so true, she didn't take herself too seriously but she was also a very astute business woman.

I'm thinking the boob's weren't surgery. I think they went in the cupboard with the wigs.
I heard a comment she used the wigs to hide the pack for mikes to keep her waist slim, I think it could also have been in the padding of the boob's

Dolly was a philanthropist, everything she did was to help others and she was a real inspiration, a skilled and shrewd buisness woman and as well as a talented musician.

Yes, there's also the element that part of Dolly's extravagant look was probably a mask- I mean, metaphorically, in the sense that it allowed her to live a more normal life when she was offstage. Probably why she remained likeable after being a star so long.

Madonna also arguably unfortunately seems more 'desperate' as she keeps trying to seem on-trend and daring. Dolly at the same age I think (though not an expert) had settled more for being a legacy artist mostly and seemed more comfortable in herself.

I think she was a genuinely decent person who had her roots in her spirituality and faith, but I also think from what I’ve read that she was a genius at PR before that was mainstream.

Yeah...that's my stance too! I think the fact she was self-aware and funny about it made a big difference also to people's attitude.

Interesting : in what ways was she an early PR genius? She seemed good at interviews and Dollywood I suppose was part of that also?

I adore Dolly and have been very sad since the announcement. If it’s your thing, there’s a fabulous podcast series about her from a few years ago called Dolly Parton’s America, which looks at her impact on culture and how she’s this great unifier across political and cultural tribes. It’s fascinating and there’s loads of great interviews. I’m thinking of listening to it again.

Yes there was a bit of a mask going on, if you watch the interview with her showing of the campervan, 'And there's a couple of Dollys there' opening a cupboard with two wigs on stands.

Thats what makes me think the boobs maybe weren't surgery but fake boobs in the cupboard with the wigs.

The most recent thing I saw was that when she worked on a film with Billy Ray Cyrus, when they were both much younger, and there was a rumour they were having an affair, he went into her trailer and she winked and said, 'Honey, this trash sells records!'"

i think she was incredibly clever. Used her looks and figure to disarm men. Understood the way the industry worked whilst simultaneously keeping her private life private. Played the wholesome whore role perfectly. To this day do we know if she did actually have any affairs? I had a huge crush on Burt Reynolds growing up so I’d love to know that.

The most impressive part for me was the way she looked after her family, brought them all into the business. She took on a maternal familial responsibility very early which I find interesting. Would have most likely been a billionaire if she hadn’t given so much money away. Was incredibly talented, refused to sell the rights to her records at a time where people weren’t particularly savvy about such things. Just a remarkable, remarkable woman.

Oh I remembered seeing a good podcast on her but couldn't remember the title- thanks for mentioning!

She was basically her own drag queen. The outfits, the makeup, the wigs. She was playing a part.

It was very clever. She always satirised herself first. So you can either go along with the joke and enjoy it or look like a po faced annoyance who has no sense of humour.

She had a whole private life. She was married to the same man for 58 years and the only photos of him are from the 60s and 70s. He didn't like public life and supported her behind the scenes. We'll never have any idea what their private life was like.

She grew up with 11 brothers and sisters in a two-room (not two bedrooms, two rooms overall) wooden shack in the Appalachian mountains. I don't know how someone could have the kind of career she had when starting from that kind of poverty.

She started Dollywood in her hometown to give back to the area. It's the biggest employer in the area now, over 4000 people have jobs there, and they pay better than average and will fund college for any employees who want to go.

she pledged $500 to every high school student who graduated in the early nineties in the same local area. The dropout rate went from 35% to 6% as a result.

She basically funded the saving of the bald eagle from extinction

She was an amazing songwriter, too. Who can forget Whitney's version of I Will Always Love You.

I liked the idea of her having a real & long-lasting bond with her husband so I hope there weren't any secret affairs.

great tribute here from Rick Beato (this guy knows everything there is to know about music)

Yes, one very good book (extremely upsetting though) is Bastard Out Of Carolina by Dorothy Allison (who has also recently passed) - written in the 1980s, but set in the 1950s and based on her own childhood then. It really shows the classism so-called 'hillbillies' had to put up with, as well as the effects of poverty and sexism on the women. Dolly had a stable and loving upbringing, unlike the book, but given the way people of her background were often seen then (and to some extent, still are), her achievements are more remarkable.

ah..live and let live. She was in the public eye and had the £££. Let her be.

'If she had something political to say she was respectful and careful with her words.'

• yes, in the 60s-70s not all actors and singers were expected to be as political as they are today but many later changed and arguably on both sides were often clumsy at best in expressing their views.

Dolly's approach seemed good: she supported causes like AIDS and gay marriage when that could have been controversial with some of her fanbase, and she funded the vaccine, but she didn't dismiss fans solely for being Democrats or Republicans.

Yes.

But perhaps not right after her death..!

She would also never talk about politics. Would pretend she didnt understand it. What a clever move that was knowing what a divisive subject that is.