Essay Sample on Dolly Parton

Imagine sitting in the car and just listening to the radio when all of a sudden an angelic voice starts singing. This is Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is a female country music legend that is known worldwide for her unique and prodigious voice. Thanks to Dolly Parton, children have access to learning resources.  Dolly Parton should be considered the most valuable person because she has used her fame and money to benefit the community the best that she can.

Dolly Parton became a legend in the world’s eyes. She wrote her biggest hits in the 90s. But, she was not just born into fame. According to The Country Music Hall of Fame, “She and Vince Gill won the CMA’s Vocal Event of the Year Award for their duet of “I Will Always Love You” in 1996” (“Dolly Parton Bio”). She also won a Grammy Award for Best Country Music Collaboration with Vocals in 1999, along with being elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame (“Dolly Parton Bio”). This shows that she won multiple awards in the 90s for her iconic songs. As said before, Dolly Parton did not come from a bountiful family (Kelley 28). Dolly Parton was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1946. She grew up very poor, and usually, they did not have enough money to buy food (Kelley 28). Even though she had a hard life as a child, she had always cherished singing (Kelley 33). Her greatest dream in life was to sing at the Grand Ole Opry (Kelley 33). Dolly Parton was only ten years old when she first sang on Las Walker Radio Show (Kelley 55). She performed so excellently that she was given a job on the Las Walker TV show (Kelley 56). At the young age of 13, she had reached her dream and she sang at the Grand Ole Opry (Kelley 62). This shows that Dolly has a passion for music and was determined to follow her dream although she grew up extraordinarily poor. Therefore, Dolly Parton set a goal when she was a little girl and she followed through with her passion. Once she got her big break from the TV show, she became unstoppable.

Dolly Parton has contributed to the world in many ways. She has mostly contributed to the children of the United States. “Her Imagination Library, which gives one free book a month to children from birth to age five, has distributed more than 100 million books, and expanded from East Tennessee to towns across the United States and into England and Australia.” (“Dolly Parton Bio”). Dolly Parton has an organization that gives away free books to children as young as newborn to five years old. This shows that Dolly Parton has contributed to society by helping children appreciate education and have easy access to books. Dolly Parton has also founded the Dollywood Foundation, which is an organization to provides educational resources to children (“Dolly Parton”). This shows that Dolly Parton is helping society by trying to engage children in learning and bettering their education. Therefore, Dolly Parton has contributed to society by helping children learn to love learning and help them have access to reading.

However, people may believe that she was just obsessed with becoming famous and money since she became such a superstar. In 1985, Dolly Parton and a few other investors opened Dollywood, which has become one of the South’s leading tourist attractions (“Dolly Parton Bio ''). This shows that people could think that Dolly Parton just opened the park up since she was famous and she wanted the money. However, “Through Dollywood and the non-profit Dollywood Foundation, Parton has contributed in many ways to her home county’s economy and scholarship programs for high school students there.” (“Dolly Parton Bio''). This shows that she uses some of the Dollywood profit to give back to her community and to give teenagers opportunities to help their future. Therefore, some people may believe that Dolly Parton is just a money-hungry celebrity looking for every opportunity to make some money when in all actuality, she is using her money to give to the community and to make the area a better place.

Dolly Parton has contributed to society and her community in many ways and should be considered the most valuable person. Without Dolly Parton, so many children wouldn’t have access to reading all of the books that are given through her foundation. She has helped the lives of so many teenagers and children because of the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library. Thanks to Dolly Parton, teenagers in Tennessee have more scholarship opportunities so that they can have a better future. Dolly Parton has played an outstanding role in helping the children in America. She has shown that dreams can come true and one person cannot make the world a better place, but it can help.