By Florence Freeman
Hearing the news of Dolly Parton’s death was truly shocking for me.
One of the first people I called was my best friend. I remember us trying to make sense of it all. We simply couldn’t believe it.
“I actually can’t believe it,” she said. “She really was an icon.”
We cried, reminisced and talked about the impact Dolly had on our lives.
One of my strongest memories of her is tied to family parties. Growing up, there was always music, dancing and celebration at the parties. As the night went on and the energy softened, the playlist would change too.
That’s when the slower songs came on. Country music would fill the room, and more often than not, so would Dolly.
Her music seemed to mark the end of the night, when conversations became quieter and people reflected before heading home.
At 27, after countless family gatherings and celebrations, those moments at the end of the night remain some of my happiest memories.
Dolly Parton may be gone, but for so many people, her music will always be part of the moments that matter most. — BBC
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