Years from now, many people will remember where they were when they heard the news of Dolly Parton’s death. Her fans, who represent every age, location, political affiliation, and socio-economic demographic, are remembering the universally beloved superstar fondly because her achievements far transcended country music. First and foremost an entertainer, through both music and film, Parton was also a philanthropist, a feminist, a savvy businesswoman, and an authentic, straightforward leader who served as a global role model. Never aging and always relevant, she was an icon within our nation’s collective culture who will be missed. Yet the leadership and communication lessons she so masterfully brought forth will live on. Here are a few from which to learn.
Share your origin story. Literacy was Dolly Parton’s best known philanthropic cause and she picked it for a very personal reason. “My daddy couldn’t read and write, but daddy was so smart,” she told CNBC and many other reporters over the years. The organization she founded “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” used her name recognition and her very real and palpable passion for the cause to get big results. According to the website, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted 300 million books total since it was founded. Registered children aged from birth to five years old get a free high quality book once a month, which translates into three million books per month. As of 2026, 1 in 6 children under the age of 5 in the U.S. is enrolled in the program. Fun fact: Imagination Library inspired PJ Library, a program started by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 2005, which annually sends 7 million Jewish-themed children’s books to children in 40 countries around the globe. PJ Library was a beloved Teak Media client for many years and is just one example of how Parton’s philanthropy goes beyond even her own imagination.
The lesson here is that if you lead a nonprofit, you should be able to explain the organization’s origin story and why you care about it so much. Doing so adds emotion to the equation, which gives you credibility that can help raise the profile of your organization. Doing so helps to build stronger relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
Personal authenticity is good for business. Dolly Parton was never a person who shied away from who she was or where she came from. She never changed her accent or how she dressed to suit other people. She built her amusement park, “Dollywood,” in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee near where she grew up, which wasn’t a well known vacation destination prior to that. In 2024, 3.14 million people visited Dollywood, making it one of the top 20 tourist attractions in North America. When wildfires hit her home state of Tennessee in 2016 she lent her name to a fundraiser that raised $9M. Authenticity is an important trait for any nonprofit leader to have. Embrace your strengths and lean in to who you are.
Reframe a negative narrative. It is no accident that Dolly Parton’s first big hit “Dumb Blonde” had lyrics that took on the stereotype.The lyrics she wrote included “this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool.” The song went to number 24 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1967.
When people made jokes about her breast size or style, she used humor to control the narrative. She told Barbara Walters in a memorable 1978 interview: “I know exactly what I’m doing. I can change it at any time. I make more jokes about myself than anybody.” Instead of avoiding criticism or being defensive, there are times when taking the issue head on allows you to dilute its power and claim the story by telling it your way.
Embrace new ways to share your message. Dolly Parton was open to using different forms of technology to reach a wider audience. She made the jump from music to films, starting in hit movies like “9 to 5”, which has earned more than $100M, and the Oscar-nominated “Steel Magnolias.” She also smoothly transitioned to social media. Her nephew announced her death in a video posted to her social media channels including X where she had 4.8 million followers. In 2020, she went viral originating the social media meme called the “social challenge” where she posted a mosaic of photos of herself dressed in different ways to reflect the personalities of LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder. Everyone from Oprah to NBA players made their own versions. Using a variety of means to deliver your message will help you reach audiences where they get their information.
To quote one of her most famous songs, “I will always love” Dolly Parton. It is no surprise there is such an outpouring of quotes and stories about her right now. She spent her life being her most authentic and kind self and using her power and position to help others. We would all do well to follow her example.
