On Tuesday, North Carolinians flocked to the Dolly Parton mural in Asheville to honor the Queen of Country. Fans laid flowers and left notes in chalk on the sidewalk. Tributes poured in online from musicians, celebrities, and politicians. Governor Josh Stein even lowered North Carolina’s flags to half-staff.      

North Carolina loved Dolly Parton. Of course there was the music, the movies, the witty quips and iconic outfits– but what made her so beloved wasn’t just her talent, it was how she used that talent to help others. 

While Parton’s home state was Tennessee, she supported North Carolina as if she was one of our own. 

In 2024, when North Carolina was reeling from Hurricane Helene, Parton stepped up, donating millions of dollars toward recovery efforts in NC and across the South. 

“We’re all here to mend these broken hearts,” she said. “When I look around, I think, ‘These are my mountains, these are my valleys, these are my rivers… these are my people, and this is my home.”

In 2019, Parton came to Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh to help launch the statewide rollout of her Imagination Library– a program that provides free books to children to encourage early literacy. 

At the event, she delivered a surprise performance of “Jolene” alongside some Triangle musicians, creating lifetime memories. “This is the greatest gig for me,” said one musician. “She was there celebrating Raleigh. She was there celebrating us.”

The Imagination Library program has now distributed more than 21 million books to children across North Carolina. In Wake County alone, more than 75,000 children have received 2 million books through the program. 

Parton even stood up for the LGBTQ+ community in North Carolina, speaking out against the “bathroom bill” that rocked our state.  

“I think everybody should be treated with respect,” said Parton. “I don’t judge people. I try not to get too caught up in all the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.”

Then she quipped, in a way that only she could: “I just know if I have to pee I’m gonna pee. I don’t care where it’s gonna be.”

Dolly Parton may have been North Carolina’s best neighbor. But she didn’t just support North Carolina, she showed that kindness and generosity to everyone. 

She funded medical research that led to one of the first Covid-19 vaccines. She gave millions to children’s hospitals. She even helped save the bald eagle (seriously). 

North Carolina loved Dolly Parton because she loved us. We’re living through difficult times, but her legacy is a reminder of what America can be when it’s at its best– a generous neighbor, a unifier, a leader who is kind, compassionate, and radiant. May her memory inspire us to continue building a country that reflects that character.