Dolly Parton & 17 White Women Who Black Folks Have Embraced

Dolly Parton’s legacy goes far beyond country music. The legendary singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist died at 80 on Aug. 25, 2026, following a brief and private battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones. Fans will forever remember Parton for timeless hits like “Jolene,” “9 To 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” But her impact stretched far beyond the recording studio. Parton was a white woman from Nashville who not only fought for Black people but also stood up for our civil rights unabashedly. 

Throughout her career, Parton used her platform, money and influence to support communities and causes close to her heart, never afraid to speak publicly about racial inequality or show her support when doing so may have put her career in jeopardy. 

Dolly’s Whitney Houston connection became a gift to Nashville.

One of the most memorable examples of Parton putting her money where her mouth was came through Whitney Houston’s iconic version of “I Will Always Love You.”

During a 2021 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Dolly Parton revealed that she used royalties from Houston’s recording to purchase an office complex in a predominantly Black Nashville neighborhood, in order to honor the legendary singer. The legendary song made around $10 million in royalties for Parton, according to Forbes.

“It was mostly just Black families and people that lived around there,” Parton said. “It was a whole strip mall. And I thought, ‘This is the perfect place for me to be, considering it was Whitney.’ ”