Reddit Users Proclaim Dolly Parton Is The Best Thing About The USA: ‘A National Treasure’
Reddit serves as an outlet for people to express their most honest feelings about various topics relating to sports, entertainment,…
Dolly Parton; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Reddit serves as an outlet for people to express their most honest feelings about various topics relating to sports, entertainment, economics and more. In a recent thread, the queen of country music, Dolly Parton, became the subject of attention when a user posed a question asking others to share something good about the USA.
The top response indicated that Dolly is in fact one of the best parts about the country, and thousands of users agreed. Instead of the usual controversy that sparks in these threads, there was an overwhelming number of comments that gave nothing but high praise to the “9 To 5” singer. She was even dubbed a “national treasure.”
According to one user, “She could run for Governor and win easily.”
Based off the comments, it’s clear that those in the south would do anything for Dolly.
“The state of Tennessee would go to war for her, but she’d never let us,” one user said while another added that she is “A living testament of what insane amount of good, a decent wealthy person can do with their money, and honestly she’s just an awesome woman.”
Dolly hasn’t just captured the hearts of those in the south. In fact, people from all over the world have recognized her extraordinary generosity throughout the years.
“As a Californian, even I can confirm.”
Many also made note of the work Dolly has done through her Imagination Library, which is a program that offers free books to children five years old or younger and has already helped more than 275,000 children.
“The Imagination Library is everything. I don’t even like country music, but I love her. They were trying to put a statue of her in Nashville and she told them not to, the wanted those funds to go to helping kids.”
Another user wrote, “I’m an Alabamian and I love that she represents all that is good about the South and America at large. We have dozens of books from the Imagination Library at our house and it is such a special thing that kids can get free high-quality books.”
The first few books of the Imagination Library were distributed in 1995 to kids in Sevier County, TN, which is known as the town Dolly grew up in. By 2003, one million books had been mailed out to children and not long after, the program went international. It extended beyond the U.S. to branches in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer,” Parton shared in a statement regarding the program’s mission. “The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
She was recently honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy during the formal awards ceremony that was held New York City on October 13. The medal serves as a recognition of “her investments in alleviating poverty, strengthening early childhood education through the distribution of free books worldwide, increasing college access, and advancing medical research.”
In addition to her musical talents, Dolly Parton is widely known for her philanthropy. She has shown time and time again that she is committed to helping others around her. Earlier this year, she donated $1 million to the pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She has also supported a number of causes throughout her career, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
“I love all children. No child should ever have to suffer, and I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible,” Parton shared in a statement.
Find out more about the Imagination Library HERE.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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