In Dolly Parton’s ebullient existence, lessons in life and love and devotion to what really matters

By: Clay Wirestone

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: August 29, 2026

Words: 1,043

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

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The queen is dead. Long live the queen.

That queen, of course, would be legendary country entertainer Dolly Parton, who slipped the surly bonds of Earth on Aug. 25 at the age of 80. A Tennessee native, she nonetheless visited Kansas three years ago to celebrate the expansion of her Imagination Library literacy program.

The preternaturally talented Parton had much to teach those of us in the Sunflower State — and every other …

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