Dolly Parton, Real Country
In a world where the music industry is all about appearances and illusion, Dolly was the real thing—Real Country. She never forgot where she came from or the struggles of her family and folks like them. She carved out a spot in an industry where women are supposed to live up to certain expectations and smashed all of the expectations. She was kind and empathetic in a time when some on the so-called Christian right are trying to make empathy a dirty word. She stood up for LGBTQ rights, defended trans kids and drag queens, and tried to help kids learn to read.
