Dolly Parton's philanthropy was based on 'her belief in the goodness of people'

Just weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the American South in 2024, Dolly Parton stood on a stage in her iconic blonde wig, with a song on her lips. She promised the flood-ravaged community in her native Tennessee — to the tune of her classic song “Jolene” — that “we’re all here to mend these broken hearts.”

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy