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What’s up Sorry State readers? Yesterday was a very sad day for many people as we said goodbye to Dolly Parton. I learned of her passing while working the front counter at the store and had to hold back some tears as the news seemed to hit me like a freight train. I honestly didn’t even throw on any of her music at the time cause I felt like it’d make me too sad. Even if you never really listened to her, or even like country music, I feel like everyone loved Dolly. How could you not? She had such a sweet voice and energy about her and just seemed like a genuinely good person. Plus Dollywood fuckin rocks and is the first place I remember riding an old school wooden rollercoaster. Any story I’ve ever read about her seemed to back up that she was the same person behind the scenes as she was on stage. Probably about eight or so years ago I had a friend who played bass and was asked to play in a backing band for Dolly at some charity event or something along those lines. He told me afterwards that Dolly came up to each member of the band individually and thanked them, told them what a great job they had done and took a picture with them and that she was just so nice and sweet. I feel like there’s a million stories like that one. It seems silly to be so sad over someone I’ve never even met, but it clearly says a lot about her that so many people feel that way.
During peak Covid era while being bored as hell, I got super into VHS and tapes n shit. I bought some cords and connectors so I could plug my laptop into my CRT TV and I could burn whatever I wanted onto VHS tapes. I would try to just find cool videos or movies I liked to put on them. One day I stumbled upon this 1983 HBO special Dolly In London and instantly fell in love with it. If you’re looking to celebrate Dolly, I think this special is a great way to do it. Not only do you get to see what an amazing performer she was on the stage, it also does a great job highlighting her incredible personality and how funny and full of life she was. Truly one of a kind, there will never be another Dolly. I’ll include one more video here to close this out, Doc Watson and Dolly rehearsing The Last Thing On My Mind backstage at MerleFest in 2001. Who’s cuttin onions in here? Thanks for everything Dolly, we love ya!