Episode Details

I once heard someone refer to Dolly Parton as an American treasure, and that feels exactly right.

She is beloved in the country music world, of course, but her popularity reaches far beyond it, and far beyond her humble beginnings in Tennessee.

I think of Dolly as an ambassador of hope. She has always done things on her own terms while remaining thoughtful and generous toward others.

In 2023, she published a beautiful book called Behind the Seams. It tells the stories behind the costumes, gowns, high heels, wigs, and the sparkly clothes she has worn throughout her career.

One detail especially stood out: Dolly began saving her clothes when she was still a young musician and performer, long before she became THE Dolly Parton we all know and love today.

I find that incredibly hopeful.

Dolly has talked about why she has always loved big hair, bright colors, high heels, and rhinestones. Those things made her feel beautiful. They made her feel special. They helped her express who she truly was.

The fact that she cherished those clothes even before anyone else considered them valuable, feels like an act of faith in herself.

Back in the 1960s and ’70s, she couldn’t have known exactly what her future would hold. Or maybe, somewhere deep inside, she did.

Maybe she understood that the things that made her different were also the things that would make her unforgettable.

Dolly’s story reminds me that there is hope in being true to ourselves.

There is hope in honoring what makes us feel confident, what makes us happy, even when other people don’t get it.

We don’t need to wait for others to approve or even understand what feels right for us.

Hope can be the belief who we are today is already worth celebrating.

So wear the sparkly outfit if that's your thing. Choose what makes you feel good and what makes you feel special. We can all be like Dolly in that way.

Follow the dream that feels right to you. And maybe save the dress.

You never know where hope, and a little faith in yourself will take you.

Photo credit: Alexander Krivitskiy via Unsplash.

Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton

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