I cannot remember the exact year, but it was in the 1990s when I had the honor of seeing Dolly Parton perform at a Choice Hotels International convention. She put on a great show. Dolly was a great storyteller and was very funny, often making fun of herself. She was so talented, had the greatest smile, and was most definitely one of a kind. Everyone loved Dolly. It is hard to believe she is gone.
In addition to being a performer, Dolly was a very successful entrepreneur with Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and two resorts (Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa—both in Pigeon Forge). On September 29, Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel will open in Nashville. Spanning the entirety of the hotel’s third floor will be Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum. Together with Herschend Family Enterprises, Dolly built her amusement park and hotels.
Most importantly, Dolly is one of the greatest philanthropists to grace our industry. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has given more than 300 million books to children across five countries. More than 3 million children from birth to age five receive a new book to read each month. This is all at no cost to those kids.
It Made Her Very Proud
Of all her accomplishments, Dolly Parton was most proud of her Imagination Library literacy program—a reflection of all the kindness shared by entrepreneurs in our industry.
Click here to access a list of Dolly’s many philanthropic contributions, one of which is the establishment of Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood. The 30,000-square-foot aviary managed by the American Eagle Foundation shelters the largest collection of “non-releasable” bald eagles. Parton’s efforts to preserve the bald eagle earned her the Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Through her employment of thousands of people and her many donations, Dolly had an incredible positive impact on our world. All I can say is “Wow!”
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”―Dolly Parton
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