This week, the world lost a true American icon, one of the most universally beloved and respected people in modern times. I speak, of course, of the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton herself. With her tragic passing, I find myself thinking about… superheroes.
I know, I know! But hear me out.
With most superheroes, their supernatural abilities are only the initial hook. The best ones take us deeper into what makes the person beneath the powers tick. Take Superman, for example. Flight, super strength, heat vision, and untold other powers over the course of his long history. But what makes Superman so interesting? That deep down, he's not really Superman. He's Clark, the mild-mannered guy from Smallville, Kansas who advocates for truth, justice, and the American way, regardless of whether he does that as a superhero or a reporter.
What about Spider-Man? Again, amazing powers. Wall-crawling, agility, strength, enhanced senses, not to mention the gadgets Peter invents to aid in his crime-fighting adventures. But isn't that the point? Deep down, he's not Spider-Man. He's Peter Parker, the nerdy little guy from Queens who does more science with less than any other tech genius. At the end of the day, Peter just wants to look out for the little guy, to be, in his own words, a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And every sacrifice he makes is in service to this goal.
But more than any other hero, the best representation of this phenomenon is Captain America. For all of his leadership, heroism, and fantastic feats, Cap remains, at his core, Steve Rogers. Specifically, scrawny and sickly Steve from Brooklyn. The kid who couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag, yet constantly gets into fights. And why is he getting into fights? Either to protect someone or to defend his ideals. Despite his undeniable weakness, he never backs down, no matter how many beatings come. And that's what makes him such a fantastic hero and leader once he receives power from the Super Soldier Serum. As Dr. Erskine noted before Steve's transformation, a strong man has known strength his whole life, but a weak man with strong character will understand the value of the strength he gains.
And this brings me back to Dolly.
Dolly Parton came from nothing. She was nothing. The fourth of twelve children in a family so poor that poverty would've been an upgrade for them. They lived in a tiny community in Sevier County, Tennessee. Yet this middle child of a massive family with no means and little connection to the larger world dreamed that she'd one day be rich and famous. And thanks to her sharp mind, undying work ethic, and incredible singing voice, she became exactly that. But unlike so many, she never allowed her newfound wealth and fame to ruin her. She remained a hard worker. She was, by all accounts, a joy to be around. And she gave back. Man, did she ever give back. Dolly could've died a billionaire, but she felt it was more vital to be charitable.
Dolly Parton is the Steve Rogers of fame and fortune.
Think about it! Just as Steve, a good man who started out with no strength at all, understood the value of his eventual strength, so too did Dolly, a good woman who started out with no money or fame at all, understand the value of her eventual wealth and fame. She understood it as both a blessing and a responsibility. Her views on faith have ebbed and flowed over the years, but it's abundantly clear that she takes seriously the command to "love your neighbor as yourself." And she loved all her neighbors. She never held back, never held grudges, and mostly steered clear of partisan politics. Whenever a natural disaster happened, particularly anywhere in the South, she was right there with a massive check in hand to help the relief and rebuilding efforts.
And whenever people tried to honor her, Dolly remained humble. She requested the Tennessee government not to erect a statue of her, believing it wouldn't be appropriate. She declined multiple Presidential Medals of Freedom from presidents of both political parties. She loved to perform, of course, but it was never about being the center of attention. It was about the art of music and how it could bring people together.
What else can be said? In our celebrity- and social-media-obsessed culture, Dolly is the closest thing we'll ever have to a real-life Steve Rogers. The Queen of Country. The sharp businesswoman. The unfailingly kind neighbor. Still, at heart, that little girl with big dreams beyond her tiny cabin home. A true American icon.
Rest in peace, Dolly. We will always love you.