Even in her last days, Dolly Parton was determined to do her bit to help save the world.
The country music legend’s death on August 25, aged 80, after a ‘brief battle with cancer’ prompted a huge outpouring of love for the late star.
Beyond her huge hits, Dolly had become known for her philanthropy. At every opportunity, she shared her fortune with those in need.
It’s been reported that she donated over $500million throughout her life to healthcare research, children’s literacy, LGBTQ+ organisations, animal conservation, and disaster relief.
Her sister Stella, 77, has revealed that that generosity extended to her final days, with Dolly offering up her own body to medical researchers.
‘My sister was one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I’ve ever known,’ she shared.
‘What the world saw is exactly who she was, so much so, she told me recently that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hope of helping others in the future.’
Stella added: ‘If anyone gets to heaven, I’m sure she made it right on time. I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way.’
In Dolly’s honour, her sister – who is also a singer – asked fans to show ‘more kindness’ to others and to give ‘more of your time and resources as she continued to do, to the very end.’
One of the Two Doors Down singer’s final posts on Instagram was to share her Imagination Library, revealing Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had donated $2million.
In 1995, her nonprofit Imagination Library was founded, mailing free books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income.
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To this day, it has gifted over 300 million books worldwide, with one in 10 under-fives in the USA enrolled in the scheme.
Famously, Dolly also jumped into action in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, donating $1million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for research.
That money is credited with helping to fund and create the Moderna vaccine.
