Dolly Parton Was a Real One

Her aspirations were bigger than her background, but she never forgot where she came from. Dolly Parton, seen here on November 13, 1978, died on Tuesday at age 80. (Photo by Christian Rose/Roger Viollet via Getty Images) Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. I surely am not unique in being a kid from East Tennessee who grew up listening to Dolly Parton’s twangy soprano. Family and friends know well my mother’s penchant for beginning Christmas music season at 6 a.m. every October 1. So for three solid months each year, it was Christmas in the Reneau home. Michael Reneau is the executive editor at The Dispatch and is based in Greeneville, Tennessee. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he was editor of WORLD Magazine and for several years was editor of a daily newspaper in East Tennessee. When Michael isn’t editing, he stays plenty busy with his wife and four kids. More We Think You’d Like