It's been five days since we lost Dolly Parton and the tributes and love for her has been overwhelming.  At Walmart I bought pink balloons for a tribute at South Main Sounds and everyone I mentioned her to had the same thoughtful response.  Musicians of all genres posted on social media and the admiration was universal. I never met Dolly but always respected what she stood for, and the list, while simple, is quite expansive.  CBS This Morning aired a beautiful tribute highlighting her life and career.

To me, Dolly represented the woman who never let anything stop her.  She was a performer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and role model to all of us.  She was at once larger than life yet down to earth.  She believed in God, Family and Country yet never preached about it.  She wrote somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 songs and had some of the biggest hits of all time.  She came from dirt-poor roots to build an empire in East Tennessee and beyond. She brought us together in life and she doubled down on that in passing.

My hope is that we don't forget the love we've shared, the songs we've sung and the tears we've shed in Dolly's honor.  May her life and persona be a beacon of light as we navigate a sometimes challenging existence.  Let's not forget that there is always a dream to chase, a road to travel, a smile to share.  What would Dolly Do?  She'd just “get ‘er done”, no matter what it took or what obstacles we’re faced with.  Shine on Country Girl, we will always love you.