By: Bonnie Pipkin
Happy 75th birthday to the QUEEN, Dolly Parton!
Even if we mere humans are probably not worthy, we need your lifeforce on this earth for as long as possible! Today, and every day, we celebrate your bad ass and unflinching style, your generous spirit, your pure authenticity, and your untouchable talent. You are an icon, Ms. Parton, and we will ALWAYS love you.
For all our Dolly-loving Friends, there is a special birthday sale going on at Friends NYC, inspired by her glory. Shop the sale and channel your inner Dolly.
Dolly Parton is obviously way more than her bodacious bod, but she’s never apologized for flaunting what she’s got! Did you know the famous sheep clone, Dolly, was named after her because the cell that made the clone came from an adult sheep's mammary gland? (LOL). And even though we see her here as a Playboy bunny, she has only ever appeared on the cover of Playboy, never inside. Her style is always on point and unexpected. Rhinestones and fringe, glory be! She's famously known for saying, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." May we all be as unapologetic in our personal style choices as she.
Dolly was born in a one-room cabin in Tennessee, north of the Greenbriar Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains. Bring the scent of the woods into your home with some Balsam Fir Incense Sticks, and burn them in a Log Cabin Incense Burner like the “Backwoods Barbie” herself.
Her music is infused with her humble mountain beginnings and her family's Christian background. She has never forgotten where she came from despite all her success, and is quite the philanthropist to boot. She gave a million dollars, in response to the pandemic, to Vanderbilt University which helped fund the research leading to the production of the Moderna vaccine. But the resume of causes she's supported is long, from literacy efforts to conservation to HIV/AIDS.
A long-time advocate and vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, Dolly Parton talked about the backlash from the Christian community, and said in an interview with Larry King, “I do not think we should criticize and judge other people. I think we should be accepting and loving." Celebrate this by lighting up a Rainbow Drip Candle! Set it up next to your Dolly Parton Pillar Candle, light it with your Dolly lighter, and sing “Baby, I’m Burnin” like no one is watching.
Prolific in every sense, Dolly Parton has said she writes something every day, be it a song or an idea. She's written at least 3,000 songs since she was seven-years-old. She's a folk country queen who ventures into the pop arena as well. If you've ever seen her in concert, you know she spends just as much time telling life stories as she does filling the air with her incredible voice and musical talent. You also see her switching up and playing not just the guitar, but the banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, piano and autoharp! Don't even get me started with the costume changes. The stage lights hit that woman's never ending sparkly garment collection and they reflect like rays from Heaven. She sings, plays and speaks from deep in her heart. A inspiration in every way.
Be like Dolly. Be kind, gracious, tell your stories and sing your hearts out like only you know how. And for goodness sake, don your sparkliest sparkle duds on this day of her birth.
