Dolly Parton

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Redwood Community Radio's special series celebrating Women's History Month. Throughout history, women have led, innovated and broken barriers in every field, often against the odds. Let's dive into their stories and celebrate their achievements. [00:00:19] Speaker B: When people think of Dolly Parton, they often think first of the busty, big haired, slightly ditzy, cleverly disguised exterior. She lets us see the woman inside is a powerhouse of brains, talent and empathy. She was the fourth of 12 children born in a one room cabin in a rural area in Tennessee where her father was a sharecropper. They were poor but musical. And when Dolly graduated from high school, she moved to Nashville where her uncle Bill Owens was already a songwriter. It took her years of battling country music's long held bias against women, but with her uncle's help and encouragement, she succeeded first as a country songwriter and singer, then as a pop songwriter and singer, and then as an actress. She built an enormously successful brand and created the Dollywood Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports literacy, LGBTQ groups, environmental groups, victims of disasters, children, health and medicine, and more. She has written more than 3,000 songs, sold more than 100 million records, and won 11 Grammys among many other awards. And yet she remains a most modest person. When the state of Tennessee wanted to erect a statue of her, she refused, saying, given all that is going on in the world, I don't think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate. She is known for her self deprecating humor, often, often saying it takes a lot of money to look this cheap. But to those who would underestimate her, look at how she has succeeded, not just financially, but personally. Everyone loves her and she has used her success, her name, voice and money to help so many less fortunate. Bravo, Dolly Parton. [00:02:12] Speaker A: These women's stories remind us that courage, resilience and vision can transform the world. Keep celebrating, keep learning and keep lifting each other up because history is still being written. [00:02:27] Speaker C: Oh, I get high.