By Angeliki Thomas, Staff Writer
The Saint Leo community reflects as singer, songwriter, actress, and humanitarian, Dolly Parton has passed away. At the age of 80, born on Jan. 19, 1946, and died on Aug. 25, 2026, Parton’s death shook the world.
Her cultural impact positively influenced the world to be a little brighter. Parton was a determined spirit who wished to uplift those who came from similar humble beginnings as herself.
Across her lifetime, Parton devoted herself to philanthropic work, donating millions of dollars to various charities such as creating the famous Imagination Library.
Some other notable charity foundations which she created include the My People Fund, which was a disaster relief program created after the Great Smokey Mountain wildfires in Tennessee that offered financial support to impacted families. Parton also created The Buddy Programwhere students in Sevier, Tennessee were paired as buddies and offered $500 if both students completed high school.
She has elevated the standard for artists everywhere and on a personal level she has touched the hearts of so many people across the world.
Outside of her charity work, Parton has also broken the mold as an entertainer through her creation of Dolly Wood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. With her partnership with the Herschend family, she initiated a theme park that honors her Appalachian roots.
In the local town of Saint Leo, many students and faculty were touched by the passing of this beloved legend. One student at Saint Leo University, Ava Barretto, an English major in her senior year, was particularly struck by her passing.
In describing some of her merchandise that she has of Dolly, Barretto described a bumper sticker she owns, reading, “Dolly Parton is my Lord and Savior” said Baretto. The sticker included a picture from a ‘Jolene’ performance between the 1970s to 1980s.
“If I were to think of someone who could save the world, it would be Dolly Parton, and that’s why I got that sticker,” said Barretto.
Dolly instilled hope in her fans that there were real people in the world who still cared about humanity. When asking Barretto if she could describe Dolly in one word, she replied, “Humble.”
As a young girl, Parton was raised in a Pentecostal Christian family in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, with 11 siblings. While she was not raised with riches, she had the greatest sort of wealth, which was of love and support from her family, and she shared this wealth with the world.
“I feel like at the end of the day, she was for everyone,” said Barretto.
Parton touched the hearts of many through her emotional music. Some of her many hit songs were “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors”, “I Will Always Love You”, and “9 to 5”. Even though Parton was massively successful in her career as a music artist and philanthropist, she is remembered by many for her positive attitude and kind soul.
Another person from the Saint Leo community that was impacted by the death of Dolly was Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Marc Pugliese. Growing up in the 1980s, he had the opportunity to enjoy Dolly Parton’s cultural significance.
As a religious studies professor, he acknowledged how in Parton’s youth, she was raised in a strictly conservative and religious environment, and he appreciated how “she never stopped being spiritual or thinking that kind of thing was important.”
Dolly Parton was a light for everyone in the world, and her legacy of artistry, charity, and love will never be forgotten. As society comes to terms with her passing, it realizes the only person who could bring solace to our grieving is her. Whether by listening to her hit music or her classic films, her fame is solidified in history forever as an icon.
And as Parton would famously bless the world, “I hope life treats you kind, and I hope you have all that you ever dreamed of. And I wish you joy and happiness, but above all of this, I wish you love.”
