Dolly Parton's Life of Faith

– Kurt Jensen, OSV News

In her thousand or so songs, Dolly Parton (1946–2026) not only addressed the humiliation of poverty, harassment in a dead-end job, and romantic rivalry, but she was also comfortable with explicitly Christian songs such as “He’s Alive” from 1989 and “There Was Jesus,” released 30 years later.

In fact, Parton's faith manifested itself in concrete ways that benefited millions of people around the world.

Outrageous and flamboyant on stage, she was discreet and level-headed in her private life—and never moralistic. She preferred to lead by example, investing her wealth and fame in philanthropy with a special focus on the most vulnerable.

Love for Others from an Early Age

Even as a child, Parton—the fourth of twelve siblings—knew firsthand how illiteracy plunged people into poverty. Because her father, Robert, a farmer from eastern Tennessee, could neither read nor write, his job opportunities were very limited.

But Parton also knew that the problem of illiteracy could be addressed at an early age. With this in mind, in 1995 she founded the Imagination Library, an organization that sends free, age-appropriate books to children under the age of 5. A resounding success since its inception, the Imagination Library currently helps 3 million children every month.

Another challenge Parton faced in her youth was the widespread fear of contracting polio. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread a similar sense of terror around the world, she was asked to help, and she quietly got to work.

Without making a big fuss, Parton donated $1 million to vaccine research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, told her that a vaccine might be on the horizon. Her contribution led to the creation of the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund, which was instrumental in the development of the Moderna vaccine.

Widespread success

Parton had already been establishing herself in country music for some time when, in 1977, she made a major breakthrough with “Here You Come Again,” which became her first pop hit. Thanks to that, she became a national figure, and her fame has never waned.

Three years later, Parton made the leap to the big screen, starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the popular office comedy “9 to 5.” The trio played secretaries overwhelmed by the tyranny of a lecherous boss (Dabney Coleman). Parton wrote and recorded the film’s theme song, which was also very well received.

Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, her home state, was another of Parton's successful projects. It significantly boosted the local economy in an area that many would have considered too remote for an entertainment destination of that magnitude.

Spiritual Lessons

Parton's penchant for spiritual themes, as well as her tendency to take unexpected turns, was a constant. 

In 2012, she starred alongside Queen Latifah in the movie *Joyful Noise*, which tells the story of the rivalry between two members of a church choir in a small town in Georgia.

Nine years later, Parton received a Christopher Award for her 2020 Christmas special, ‘Christmas on the Square,’ a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella, «A Christmas Carol.» In what would be her final role, Parton played—as one might expect—an angel adorned with rhinestones.

In an article published in January to mark Parton’s 80th birthday, Rita Buettner, a columnist for the Catholic Review—the media outlet of the Archdiocese of Baltimore—described her reaction to the recent re-recording of Parton’s 1977 song, ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning.’.

“I was struck by the beauty of this gift from Dolly. It’s a song of hope, comfort, and strength at a time when we all need more of that. It’s also a song of faith.”.

Faith in humanity, faith in God

Buettner went on to praise the way Parton “lives out and clearly demonstrates her faith. She has faith in humanity, faith in a higher purpose, faith in God, faith in the future. ”I know Dolly isn’t Catholic. But we’re Christians, we’re believers, and we both try to live each day taking another step toward heaven—or so we hope.”.

“He doesn’t always say it directly,” Buettner continued. “He doesn’t have to. It comes through in his music, as he uses the gifts God has given him to bring a little more light, a little more beauty, and a little more joy to the world.”.

“Dolly’s songs help others feel less alone,” Buettner concluded. “She accompanies us on life’s journey, so we know we’re not the only ones who experience sadness, challenges, darkness, or love.”.

More than 50 years of marriage

Many people recall “Islands In the Stream” (with Kenny Rogers) in this vein, with a central message about love as a deep bond and the conviction that together, we can overcome whatever comes our way. Dolly Rebecca Parton married Carl Thomas Dean in 1966 and once joked that Dean had only seen her perform once. She was alluding to his romantic side, saying that he would do spontaneous things to surprise her, such as writing her poems. 

Parton said in 2011: “We are truly very proud of our marriage. ”It’s the first for both of us. And the last.” On May 6, 2016, Parton announced that she and Dean would renew their vows in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. On March 3, 2025, Parton announced on social media that Dean had died at their home in Nashville at the age of 82.

“I Will Always Love You”

A fact that is perhaps less well known is that Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” in 1973 and originally recorded it in 1974. Later, the version that made her famous was the one by Whitney Houston, released in 1992 as part of the soundtrack for the movie *The Bodyguard*‘, in which Houston starred alongside Kevin Costner.

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– Kurt Jensen is a guest columnist for OSV News.

– This article was originally published in OSV News, and you can read it here.