The School of Dolly
The School of Dolly is now in session!
Actually, class has been in session since January 19, 1946.
That day, Dolly Rebecca Parton sang her first song - the wail of a newborn zinging through the cracks in the boards of her Momma and Daddy’s bare-bones cabin in rural Sevier County, Tennessee.
In the years that followed, Dolly made a habit of proving people wrong. Labeled as the buxom blonde from the hills of Appalachia with a pretty face and voice but probably not a lot of brains, Dolly played the players. She broke free of the male-dominated entertainment machine to become an independent business woman while never ceasing to create and entertain.
The world watched as she wrote and sang songs, hosted and starred in television programs and movies, and endured demeaning interviews from nationally-known journalists and talk show hosts.
Then Dolly turned the tables once again revealing her deliberate plan to build a business in her home country to create jobs and ignite the economy. And she began unveiling innovative campaigns to meet critical needs (think: a global program offering free books for kids, a Covid-19 vaccine, etc).
Because of all of this, her fans are legion. Her followers hail from all backgrounds and all demographics. Her image is iconic. She skillfully transcends the culture, political and religious wars with its minefield of traps that routinely take out other stars. And she’s achieved a level of brand loyalty unparalleled by other globally "famous people.”
All that is admirable and worthy of discussion.
But what I contend has been missing in our analysis of this self-made global icon is a serious look at something deeper: how Dolly Parton did it, what core principles secured her success, and what can be learned by others who wisely want to improve the ways the work and lead in their own walks of life.
In the posts to come, I’ll share what I’ve observed through years of covering her career and even getting to interview several times in person. I write not as a fan (though I clearly admire her) but, instead, as an observer. And I will argue that’s a necessary way to approach this kind of discussion of her life and work because, in the fog of fame, it’s hard to offer an unbiased analysis you through adoring eyes.
My goal is to glean practical yet powerful lessons from “Professor Parton” and share them with others looking to lead.
So…welcome! This is going to be fun.
