Thread by @sheilakathleen

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton. #BOTD ready for a thread. #DollyParton

One of Dolly Parton's earliest singles (which she didn't write) was "Dumb Blonde." She knew going in who she was, what she wanted to look like, how she was perceived, and she was never anybody's fool about it. #DollyParton

I love Dolly Parton's stuff with Porter Wagoner. (I love her in duets, in general - but these, in particular, have an intensity and sincerity you can feel.) Here they are performing "We Found It". Heart-piercing. #DollyParton

Speaking of Dolly and Porter, the Drunk History episode about this collaboration and breakup ... is hysterical. He loves her so much. He slaps the table at the end! I love people who care this much about things.

A compilation of Dolly singing "Seeker" on different occasions. it's one of my favorites. #DollyParton

I've said this before: I don't have artistic "litmus tests" for people in terms of friendship. Relationships are more important than that bullshit. But if you don't like Dolly? If you lead with a crack about wigs/boobs/surgery? We will never ever be friends. Bye.

This clip keeps disappearing from YT, so watch it while you can. Dolly Parton joins Jerry Reed onstage to give the woman's side of things in his hilariously titled "She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft." (I ship these two. I think THEY ship themSELVES.)

Her recent "Lover Du Jour" is so great. She's got such a wonderful sense of humor about herself. I love the Wild West opening. And the sassiness. And how she laughs at herself in the end.

Here's the gorgeous duet she did w/Don Henley. Saw an interview w/her where she said she came into the studio and realized the song was a little bit higher than she expected. she really had to dig deep to get there. I love her honesty. And the result!

Mad props to Dolly for what she has created with her Imagination Library. I'm the daughter of a librarian. This is such a meaningful project. Life-changing.
imaginationlibrary.com

Let's not forget how controversial some of her early songs were. Radios wouldn't play much of it. She wrote about tough topics. Sex, men. The double standard. Or “Down From Dover,” where she’s a woman waiting for the father of her unborn child to return.

The YouTube reactor community has discovered Dolly Parton. They are all blown away - particularly her "storytelling" story songs - and it is very moving. Here is my favorite. I love these twin brothers. They are so OPEN. To EVERYTHING.

Closing out this monster thread with: I visit this clip often. It is very emotional. When she walks into Paídi Ó Sé's Pub in Ireland, unannounced, causing a flurry of excitement, and does a little acoustic set. It makes me so happy my heart explodes.

There's a moment where she reaches out and touches guitarist Steve Cooney- and the look on his face looking up at her... the RESPECT there, but also the AWE that he is playing w/ Dolly. He has died and gone to heaven. 😭

AND on the flip side: HER respect of THEM. She's Dolly Parton. She's an international superstar. But they are her colleagues during this set - they are fellow musicians - and that's how she treats them. This is how it should be.

She has always had a direct channel to her audience. Nothing has interrupted that two-way current of love and identification and admiration. There aren't too many artists where I think "I AM GRATEFUL YOU EXIST." But I think it about Dolly. Often.

Dolly fans: your faves? Anxious days, let's spread some love.

I should have mentioned TRIO, the album with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. It was on constant rotation among my group of friends in college. Perfect harmonies.