In Tennessee, all types of Americans mourn Dolly Parton, who united rather than polarized

In the heart of Tennessee, at Dollywood, a pilgrimage is underway. Brett Rich, clutching souvenir bags, waits while his husband pays for a glitter backpack. They are buying mementos for friends back home, a testament to the enduring legacy of Dolly Parton, who passed away the day before. "Everyone who knows we are here wants us to bring something back for them," Rich says. "I try to explain that our queen may be gone, but this park remains. It's one of the many things she leaves behind."

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Everyone who knows we are here wants us to bring something back for them. I try to explain that our queen may be gone, but this park remains. It's one of the many things she leaves behind.

Rich and his partner moved to Tennessee in the 1990s, drawn by Parton herself. They left Indiana for this state, then considered two conservative states where homosexuality was not widely accepted. They came for the theme park and concerts but stayed for the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, where Parton was born and grew up in poverty. A replica of her childhood cabin is a poignant attraction in a park that also features roller coasters and, as Rich notes, "unhealthy food."

"When I was lying awake last night with the bad news, I thought: this is the first day of my life that Dolly Parton is no longer here. I couldn't sleep at all then," Rich says, his voice thick with emotion. Wearing a "Dolly" t-shirt, he struggles to hold back tears as he adds, "She just radiated inclusivity, love, empathy, and generosity. We have lost an incredibly good, fun, and funny person."

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When I was lying awake last night with the bad news, I thought: this is the first day of my life that Dolly Parton is no longer here. I couldn't sleep at all then. She just radiated inclusivity, love, empathy, and generosity. We have lost an incredibly good, fun, and funny person.

Dollywood serves as a focal point for admirers to commemorate one of America's most beloved artists. Parton's hits resonated with everyone, her distinctive look became iconic, her charity work empowered children and mothers, and her theme park provided thousands of jobs in a struggling region. Her true gift, however, was her ability to make every American see a reflection of themselves in her. Her concerts drew a diverse audience, from grandparents to toddlers, drag queens to cowboys, spanning all social classes, skin colors, and political leanings.

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As a woman from the South, I feel a kinship with her: her conservative values, her focus on family, her Christian faith.

In an era where Americans often find themselves divided and outraged by differing viewpoints, Parton offered a space of welcome. She was, as Rich puts it, "the charming antidote to polarization." Lisa Hooper, a peer of Parton's, shares a different but equally deep connection. "As a woman from the South, I feel a kinship with her: her conservative values, her focus on family, her Christian faith." When asked if she felt conflicted by Parton's status as a feminist icon and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Hooper responded, "I disapprove of those lifestyles, but not of her. That's how Dolly saw it too: forgive the sinner, not the sin."

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I disapprove of those lifestyles, but not of her. That's how Dolly saw it too: forgive the sinner, not the sin.