08/26/2026
Our Chairman Mary Anne Carter shares in the grief felt around the world today as we mourn the loss of generational talent, cultural icon, and 2005 National Medal of Arts recipient Dolly Parton:
"I have always believed that the arts have the power to do something extraordinary: they can bring people together, tell our stories, preserve our culture, remind us of what we share and even heal us. As a fellow Tennessean and someone who has had the privilege of working in the arts, I believe few people have embodied that power more completely than Dolly Parton.
Dolly was one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world. She was a remarkable songwriter, musician, performer, actress, producer, and businesswoman. In 2005, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. But her greatest contribution to the arts and to our culture cannot be measured by awards, records, or even the extraordinary number of songs she has written. Her greatest contribution is the way she used her success to lift others.
For those of us from Tennessee, there is something particularly meaningful about Dolly's journey. She never abandoned the place that shaped her. Her music carries the spirit of the Smoky Mountains, the traditions of Appalachia, the values of family and community, and the unmistakable voice of East Tennessee. She took those roots with her onto the world's biggest stages and, in doing so, showed the world that where you come from can be a source of strength rather than something you leave behind.
As an arts leader, I especially admire the way Dolly understood that creativity is not simply about entertainment. It is about opportunity. It is about giving people—especially young people—the chance to discover their own voices and imagine possibilities beyond what they may see around them.
Her commitment to literacy through the Imagination Library is a beautiful example of that belief. She took something deeply personal—her love of books and the memory of her father, who never had the opportunity to receive a formal education—and transformed it into an international gift to children and families. That is the kind of legacy that matters.
Dolly Parton gave generations of people songs that became part of the soundtrack of their lives. She made us laugh, cry, dance, sing, and sometimes simply stop and listen. But beyond the music, she demonstrated what it means to use a platform with generosity, humility, and purpose.
From one Tennessean and arts advocate to another: thank you, Dolly. Thank you for the music, for the stories, for the laughter, and for the generosity. Your voice traveled far beyond the mountains of East Tennessee, but it never stopped sounding like home." 🦋✨
—Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
