Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee<a href="https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2026/8/28/gov--lee-announces-partnership-to-name-nashville-international-airport-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.html"> announced Friday</a> that the state plans to rename Nashville International Airport after country music icon Dolly Parton, calling the move a lasting tribute to her “indelible legacy” and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.
Lee said he spoke with Parton’s team about the proposal this week. According to the governor, Dolly’s team expressed appreciation for the “extraordinary outpouring” of support to honor Parton and said they were touched by the idea.
Based in the heart of Music City, BNA is one of<a href="https://flynashville.com/news/press-releases/fy26-mnaa-marks-transformative-year"> America’s fastest-growing airports</a> and welcomed a record 26.7 million passengers during the last fiscal year. An<a href="https://www.change.org/p/rename-nashville-international-airport-to-dolly-parton-international-airport-d234875f-d5aa-4c57-8027-99bfd2594721"> online petition</a> calling for the airport to be renamed after Parton’s passing has amassed more than 150,000 signatures.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
Parton died Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” her representatives revealed, as fans<a href="https://x.com/JWheelertv/status/2092387189170586010?s=20"> gathered outside her Nashville home</a> to mourn the loss of one of country music’s most beloved stars.
Born in Sevier County, Parton became a global icon whose music, wit, philanthropy, and unmistakable voice reflected the heart and soul of the Volunteer State. The Tennessee-born singer was hospitalized on Friday and died four days later at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-partons-cause-of-death-revealed?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dolly+Parton%E2%80%99s+Cause+Of+Death+Revealed"> The Daily Wire reported.</a>
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her death in an Instagram video. &#8220;But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus,” Seaver said.
Parton’s death followed a period of growing health concerns. Fans were alarmed in September 2025 when she postponed a scheduled six-night Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. True to form, Parton eased the disappointment with humor, joking that she needed a “100,000-mile check-up” — and clarifying that it didn’t involve her plastic surgeon.
Four days before her death, she opened up to<a href="https://people.com/dolly-parton-shares-health-update-while-announcing-plans-for-museum-exclusive-12065750"> PEOPLE</a> about her recent health struggles. 
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [her late husband] Carl,” Parton told the outlet.
President Donald Trump also ordered American flags flown at half-staff nationwide for one week beginning Tuesday evening in honor of the Queen of Country Music.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority is set to consider both its naming policy and the proposal at its Sept. 17 meeting,<a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2026/08/28/gov-bill-lee-bna-announce-plan-name-nashville-airport-honor-dolly-parton/"> local outlet WSMV reported.</a>
“It’s only right that Tennessee’s largest and busiest commercial airport,<a href="https://x.com/Fly_Nashville"> @Fly_Nashville</a>, be named after someone so emblematic of Tennessee—hospitable, joyous, generous—the one and only, Dolly Parton,” Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty<a href="https://x.com/SenatorHagerty/status/2093403306806673523?s=20"> said</a> on X.

Dolly Parton

Tennessee Unveils Major Plan To Honor Dolly Parton’s Legacy

bill lee

dolly parton

nashville international airport

tennessee

Dolly Parton was the greatest southern stateswoman of the 20th and 21st centuries. Forgive me a bit of hyperbole; the country star’s death at 80 has triggered an outpouring of grief and will no doubt be the source of thousands of well-earned and deserved eulogies and epitaphs.
Some might suggest it&#8217;s wrong to invoke the idea of a stateswoman for a figure so assiduously apolitical. Dolly was refreshing because she was not political even in moments where it was popular, or at least commonplace, to be so. Dolly managed to be friends with leftist icons such as Jane Fonda and a maternal figure to the deep red denizens of her home region. That she might have been a truly political figure, in that most classical and truest sense of the word, would have probably never occurred to her. Dolly’s legacy was more than music. It was also more than culture. Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean changed the fabric of society in her home region for the better, in ways that hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans benefit from.
The world Dolly Parton entered in 1946 was not only poor; it was, by our standard, barely modern. She was born at her parents’ home, not in a hospital. That home was a one-room cabin that would have seemed rustic to people born one hundred years before she was. Dolly eventually had 11 siblings. Her mother had 12 children before the age of 35. Her father was an illiterate sharecropper. The Partons did not even have money to pay the missionary doctor who delivered Dolly. Her father offered a sack of cornmeal. 
Sevier Country, Tennessee, was in the 1940s still remarkably poor at a time when the rest of Tennessee began to experience the government-sponsored prosperity of the Tennessee Valley Authority. FDR’s programs did not lift the Partons out of poverty. That work would be done by the small, wasp-waisted, blond daughter of Avie and Robert Parton.
Dolly Parton’s world was traditional without the benefit of the correct respect given to tradition-coded life from Zoomers. Music was celebrated because it was one of the few ways the often-barely literate or illiterate mountain folks passed on their traditions. Holiness Pentecostal religion offered a passionate faith in a place where day-to-day life was often marked by grinding poverty. Dolly Parton was everything that modern America should have hated: a poor, southern, uneducated hillbilly. 
And yet America not only did not hate Dolly; it fell hopelessly, madly, uproariously in love with her. Her good looks and sweet voice certainly turned heads and melted the hearts of those who might have looked down on her. But Dolly’s true talent was being far smarter than anyone ever gave her credit for. It was that intelligence — so unsuspected from anyone born in to the poorest parts of the Smokies in the 1940s — that made Dolly more than just a singer and more than a cultural icon.
Dolly at times looked and sounded ridiculous. The rhinestones, and the syrupy but still somehow tasteful flirtation she used to charm her many admirers, might have led undiscerning observers to conclude she was nothing more than a musically talented bimbo from the sticks. But behind the façade lay the heart of a woman committed to the betterment of her people and willing to move mountains to accomplish her aims.
Plutarch wrote of the Roman general Fabius that some aspects of the latter’s personality “led those who knew him superficially to suspect him of something like foolishness and stupidity. Only a few discerned the inexorable firmness in the depth of his soul, and the magnanimous and leonine qualities of his nature.” And so it might have been for Dolly Parton, who nonetheless lived long enough for most of America to admit the depth of her soul and the undeniably magnanimous and leonine qualities of her nature.
Like a true lioness, Parton was fiercely protective of her mountain people. And like Fabius, Dolly avoided the large open-field political and social battles her time. She chose the ground she waged her war on in her battle to make the lives of Tennesseans better. And that ground proved to be entertainment and literacy.
Dolly Parton’s battle to make the lives of Appalachians better was an unmistakable success. And she fought to bring large-scale literacy to poor Americans. Dollywood employs over 20,000 people from across East Tennessee and creates almost two billion dollars in annual revenue for the region. Parton’s person is substantively responsible for the rise in tourism in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville. Her foundations funded cutting-edge medical research and helped with natural disaster relief. She did all of this while also being one of the most important singer-songwriters in the last century. 
It is perhaps trite to end with a nod to Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” made so famous by Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover. Dolly undeniably made people love her; she was pretty and sassy and talented. But if the outpouring of grief around her death is any indication, many Americans by 2026 revered and adored her for reasons that evoke the passions solicited by the death of classical heroes, heroines, and statesmen, rather than those of a country or pop star.
In Dolly, we saw the America we wanted to exist. Pericles admonished Athenians during the Peloponnesian War “to fix their eyes every day on the greatness of Athens” so that they would fall in love with her. Dolly Parton was, for Americans, the embodiment of an America we could fall in love with. And at least in Dolly, we could see an America that really was great. What more could we ask for politically from someone who was not political?
***
Miles Smith IV is an associate professor of history at Hillsdale College.
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

GettyImages-556621553

How Dolly Parton United A Divided Nation

arts

dollywood

opinion

The entire world is mourning the loss of country music legend Dolly Parton, including the British royal family.
The official royal family X account posted a video Wednesday morning, the day after Parton’s death at the age of 80, showing a unique musical tribute. In it, members of the King’s Guard wearing their signature bearskin headwear play an instrumental version of the classic single, “9 to 5.” 
“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort, and inspiration to so many — including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always [love] you,” the accompanying caption said.
Parton is believed to be one of the last universally beloved celebrities whose popularity transcended political sides and music genres. Immediately following the news of her death after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-partons-cause-of-death-revealed">short battle with cancer</a>, musicians and world leaders shared words about what Parton meant to them personally, and to the world. 
“Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-world-loves-you-trump-orders-flags-to-half-staff-for-dolly-parton">wrote</a> in a Truth Social post.
“In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM,” he continued. “Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
Both senators from Parton’s home state of Tennessee also reacted to news of her death.
&#8220;Tennessee has lost one of its greatest legends- a woman who never lost sight of her faith, her roots, or the Volunteer Spirit. [Dolly Parton] was a true Tennessee treasure, and her legacy will forever be defined by her love of faith, family, and the place she proudly called home,&#8221; Senator Bill Hagerty (TN-R) said.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN-R) posted a photo of herself with Parton for her tribute. &#8220;There are no words to adequately express the sorrow our family and indeed, all Tennesseans, feel in the loss of Dolly Parton. An iconic leader who loved our great state and nation. Her passing leaves a void that no one can ever fill. Dolly, we will always love you,&#8221; it said.
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 and gave away more than 100 million free books. The singer created the organization to honor her late father, who never learned to read.

SEE IT: British Royal Family Shares Touching Tribute To Dolly Parton

british royal family

donald trump

lifestyle

There’s a reason every Dolly Parton song feels like it finds a home in the deepest part of your soul. Writing from her heart, she set out to make a career in music. Instead, she changed the world, and she did it by always being herself.
“I never do anything that I don’t pray about,” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1296816105625461">Dolly</a> said. “I always ask God to … guide me to do things that would glorify him and to uplift mankind. That’s my mission.” 
Whether she was playing the sassy Doralee Rhodes in “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4&amp;list=RDUbxUSsFXYo4&amp;start_radio=1">9 to 5</a>” and threatening to turn a coworker “<a href="https://youtu.be/TxmtoGBeO7c?t=40">from a rooster to a hen with one shot</a>,” dishing the recipe on her cuppa cuppa cake in “<a href="https://youtu.be/2m66fBLU_fk?t=9">Steel Magnolias</a>,” belting out “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKsQR72HY0s">I Will Always Love You</a>,” or crooning over that woman “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixrje2rXLMA">Jolene</a>,” Dolly felt like one of us. Because she was. 
The fact that she could look like she did — and still relate to anyone — is the key to her magic. “My boobs are fake, my hair’s fake but what is real is my voice and my heart,” <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/glastonbury/10937329/Dolly-Parton-my-boobs-are-fake-but-my-voice-is-real-I-did-not-mime-at-Glastonbury.html">she famously said</a>. She was so wholesomely over-the-top, we couldn’t resist falling in love.
Dolly wrote more than 3,000 songs during her lifetime — if anyone was counting. “I started playing guitar when I was seven years old, and I’ve been writing serious songs ever since,” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=451630247761543">she said</a>. “I’ve got songs stuck everywhere. I pull out a drawer to get some panties … I’ll find a song in there.” 
There’s no way to know whether she recorded them all. But from the sound of it, maybe Dolly’s run isn’t entirely over. Even her upcoming Broadway show “<a href="https://www.broadway.com/buzz/207095/dolly-partons-story-comes-to-broadway-in-dolly-a-true-original-musicaltickets-are-now-on-sale/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22855272851&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD-mnJvvCyaC85cYMwQvxFiqDTotT&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw-rTUBhAiEiwADv8gBOAMeDbME-tns0_UsSpsNTtvDBNBTip_Tgd1kKi3Iu7H5nLI7IwVGBoCE4sQAvD_BwE">DOLLY: A True Original Musical</a>” will feature new songs. Now, it looks like opening night will have to honor what would have been her 81st birthday on January 19, 2027.
You can be sure Dolly fans are gonna get through this; we have Dolly to sing all the sad songs with us. 
Along with the legendary music catalog that earned her 11 Grammys, 10 Country Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and induction into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Songwriters halls of fame, Dolly graced the silver screen in over 12 theatrical releases, starring alongside Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda — in addition to her countless made-for-TV heart-warmers. 
Dolly also left her footprint behind the scenes, elevating scores of other artists’ careers. Whitney Houston leveraged Dolly’s timeless songwriting for her version of “I Will Always Love You” for the film “The Bodyguard.” And as godmother to Miley Cyrus, Dolly championed the up-and-comer by appearing in “Hannah Montana” and supporting her entry into music. 
There will never be another queen of country music. After rising from poverty to stardom living a real-life American dream, Dolly cemented her legacy over her 70-year career by paying it back to everyone she met.
Once Dolly bought <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thetasteofcountry/posts/on-this-day-in-1986-dollywood-opened-its-doors-for-the-very-first-timeparton-bou/953403557451413/">Silver Dollar City</a> in the late 1980s, the grounds were officially reopened as Dollywood. Dotted with Dolly’s signature butterflies — and regularly beating out other parks such as <a href="https://media.mypigeonforge.com/tripadvisor-users-recognize-dollywood-as-top-u-s-theme-park-2/">Disney</a>, Universal, and Legoland as a crowd favorite — the theme park continues to delight families by celebrating the bluegrass and Southern food of the Appalachians.
This was the stuff Dolly knew best. Her earliest years were spent in a one-bedroom rural Tennessee cabin in the 1940s, as the fourth-eldest of 12 children. At age six she was singing in church, and by the time she turned 13, she had co-written her first song and was introduced by Johnny Cash to perform on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. She got three encores.
&#8220;As I heard the band play my introduction, I lifted my head and looked up toward the lights,” <a href="https://dollyparton.com/life-and-career/awards_milestones/grand-ole-opry-performance-1959">Dolly</a> remembered. “I smiled at the people in the balcony and then let ‘er rip.&#8221;
After building an extraordinarily successful career, Dolly funneled a large part of her wealth back into the community, aiming to empower education through her <a href="https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/nea-honors-dolly-parton-friend-education-award">Dollywood Foundation</a>. Her Buddy Program initiative slashed school dropout rates in her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, by giving “$500 to every seventh and eighth-grader who finished high school.” The buddy part involved two students pledging to get each other across the line. 
Dolly understood the power of bringing people together, whether they liked it or not. She largely flew above political discourse, preferring to stay out of the fray. All three times she was offered the greatest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (twice from President Donald Trump, once from President Joe Biden), she declined in case it was perceived as a political choice. 
“I don&#8217;t work for those awards. It&#8217;d be nice, but I&#8217;m not sure that I even deserve it. But that&#8217;s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it,&#8221; <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/dolly-parton-donald-trump-comments-president-praises-her-12366516">she said</a>.
As the nation lowered its flags to <a href="https://x.com/yashar/status/2092320365318230336?s=46">half-staff</a> in honor of the legendary star, loved ones shared Dolly’s <a href="https://youtu.be/9govup-IG3c?t=109">final wish</a> to “rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable.” It was one last playful quip from the woman famous for joking, “It takes a lot of time and money to look this cheap, honey.” 
She was light, she was love, she was country music. We’ll miss you, Dolly. “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nttKdCfEpkk">Always, Always</a>.”
***
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

How Dolly Parton Conquered America

broadway

country music

Dolly Parton arrived on this planet on January 19, 1946. She departed it on August 25, 2026. During those 80 years, she released hit albums, acted on stage and screen, opened a theme park, and donated books, time, and money through her philanthropic endeavors. She lent her name to a line of mixes for baked goods and frozen meals. Not bad for a girl from rural Tennessee who was best known for her bust.
She was not afraid to lean into her femininity. Part of it was defensive. She grew up in rough country, but the men there <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2020/10/dolly-parton-biography-she-come-by-it-natural-excerpt.html">tended to leave</a> more glamorous-looking women alone. Of her birthplace, she said, “Womanhood was a difficult thing to get a grip on in those hills, unless you were a man.” Also, though, she and her sisters loved to look at the models in various magazines because the girls in them “didn’t look at all like they had to work in the fields. They didn’t look like they had to take a spit bath in a dishpan.” But there was another reason for her femininity, one that was much more strategic.
Making a name for herself in Nashville, in a time when the music industry was dominated by men, required a certain amount of cunning. Playing up the big-breasted, ditzy blonde lowered expectations, which was what Parton wanted. That way, they never saw her coming. She didn’t build an empire by accident.
So, Parton leaned into the stereotypes. In 1967, she released “Dumb Blonde,” a song that featured the lines, “Just because I’m blonde don’t mean I’m dumb, ‘cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool.” In what is quite possibly an apocryphal quote, she supposedly said, “I’m not offended by the dumb blonde jokes, because I know I’m not dumb, and I’m not blonde either.” Either way, she definitely told Barbara Walters, during a particularly patronizing interview, that “all these years, the people thought the joke was on me, but it’s actually been on the public. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
And she did. There was the record-setting 25 number-one hits by a woman on the Billboard country charts. There was “I Will Always Love You,” which Whitney Houston recorded a version of in 1992 and which sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks. There were roles in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “9 to 5,” and “Steel Magnolias.”
There was, and is, Dollywood. Bearing the badge of several other parks over the years, when Parton invested in it, it was a Silver Dollar City, a sister park to the original in Branson, Missouri. After her investment, it reopened in 1986 as Dollywood. Why a theme park? Parton said, “I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, that I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area.”
In 2021, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/hospitality/how-dolly-parton-built-the-tourism-empire-of-her-dreams-afdb0cca">a study</a> by the Tennessee government found that she had done just that, and then some. At the time of the study, Dollywood had created 23,000 jobs. Its annual economic impact was $1.8 billion. Parton was inducted into the theme park hall of fame in 2025. Not bad for a dumb blonde.
Also not bad was her dedication to literacy and education. Her own father never learned to read, sparking a lifelong passion in her to help others avoid that fate. She created <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/the-dollywood-foundation/">the Dollywood Foundation</a> in 1988 to address such concerns. She paid high school students $500 each if they graduated. She started a program delivering free books to kids under five. She awarded college scholarships. She helped keep people afloat by giving them $1,000 per month after fires devastated Sevier County, where Pigeon Forge and Dollywood are located.
In short, the dumb blonde from rural Tennessee left not just a song catalog with her passing, but a legacy. She was an entertainer, an entrepreneur, a bombshell, a brand. She was an inspiration to countless people who saw what could happen with hard work, determination, and the ability to laugh at yourself. Most important, though, was that she was genuinely friendly, forgiving, and generous.
I know this because I experienced it. I lived in Nashville for a time, back when I thought about making it in the music industry as a producer. Naturally, this meant I ended up waiting tables, including after graduating from Belmont University. One night at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, I was working a plum section with three tables against the wall. Of those three, table 63 was the best as it was situated in the corner. It was a table for VIPs, so when Dolly and a friend came in, that’s where they were seated.
She was as pleasant a guest as a server could ask for, smiling and chatting. If I hadn’t known who she was, I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out by her behavior, which is not something I can say of every celebrity I’ve waited on. True to her roots, she asked for A.1. with her steak. I was busy and forgot to deliver it.
She didn’t mention it, didn’t complain, and still tipped me 20%. R.I.P., queen. There will never be another.

Dolly Parton Performs At The Dominion Theatre in London

Dolly Parton Was The Queen Of Country And The Queen Of Real

philanthropy

President Donald Trump ordered American flags flown at half-staff nationwide for one week beginning Tuesday evening in honor of country music icon Dolly Parton. 
“Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117157578446470768"> said</a> in a Truth Social post.
“In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
Parton, whose sky-high blonde wigs, razor-sharp wit, and unmistakable voice made her one of the<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-parton-dead-at-80?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=Entertainment&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Dolly+Parton+Dead+At+80"> most recognizable figures</a> in American entertainment, died Tuesday. She was 80. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her death in an Instagram video.
“But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus,” Seaver said.
Parton’s death follows a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-parton-dead-at-80?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=Entertainment&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Dolly+Parton+Dead+At+80"> period of health concerns.</a> Fans were alarmed in September 2025 when she postponed a scheduled six-night Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. True to form, Parton eased the disappointment with humor, joking that she needed a “100,000-mile check-up” — and clarifying that it didn’t involve her plastic surgeon.
Born into poverty in a one-room cabin on Locust Ridge, Parton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest stars in the world without abandoning the Tennessee roots that shaped her.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the frontrunner to become the state’s next governor, said Parton&#8217;s legacy will always be intertwined with their home state.
“Dolly’s life and career are forever woven into Tennessee’s music, culture, and history. Her extraordinary talent, generosity, and love for the Volunteer State touched hearts around the world and will continue to inspire generations to come,” Blackburn<a href="https://x.com/VoteMarsha/status/2092311588921303148?s=20"> said</a>.
“Tennessee will forever be grateful for Dolly.”
Parton’s autobiographical song “Coat of Many Colors” drew from her childhood, recounting how her mother sewed her a jacket from scraps of fabric. She recorded her first single, “Puppy Love,” at 13 and headed for Nashville the morning after graduating high school in 1964, carrying her belongings in paper grocery bags.
“She was an incredible East Tennessean who served as an inspiration to little girls everywhere,” Rep. Tim Burchett<a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2092314282092351926?s=20"> said</a>. “Dolly never changed her accent or forgot where she came from.”
Parton became a songwriting powerhouse whose influence transcended country music. “I Will Always Love You” topped the country charts twice for Parton before reaching global heights in 1992, when Whitney Houston’s iconic rendition became the signature song of &#8220;The Bodyguard.&#8221;
Her success also crossed into Hollywood, where she starred in films including &#8220;9 to 5,&#8221; &#8220;The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,&#8221; and &#8220;Steel Magnolias.&#8221; She also wrote the iconic theme song for &#8220;9 to 5,&#8221; further cementing her status as a crossover star.
Parton turned a country music career into an economic empire, building one of America&#8217;s most recognizable brands. Her beloved theme park, Dollywood, created thousands of jobs and helped transform the Pigeon Forge area of East Tennessee into a major tourism destination. 
“Dolly was talented beyond compare, and an entrepreneurial juggernaut who played an integral role in transforming our state,” Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty said. “She brought laughter and joy to so many through her musical and philanthropic endeavors. She will be deeply, deeply missed.”
Parton’s influence extended well beyond entertainment and business. Though she never had children of her own, she spent decades investing in young people through charitable efforts.
“Through the Dollywood Foundation and her global Imagination Library, Dolly gave free books to children around the world, sparking a lifelong love of reading,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)<a href="https://x.com/SenatorCollins/status/2092323656860827937?s=20"> said</a>. “Her legacy will live on in the classrooms and communities she uplifted and the beautiful music she created.”
From a dirt-poor cabin in East Tennessee to the world’s biggest stages, Parton never lost her authenticity and iconic roots — even while commanding the<a href="https://x.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1727835416189956454?s=20"> halftime stage</a> and belting out “We Are the Champions” before a packed stadium at the 2023 Thanksgiving halftime show.
Country music star Reba McEntire paid tribute to her lifelong friend, reflecting on their first meeting and final conversation.
“Thank you, Lord, for Dolly. She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her,” McEntire<a href="https://x.com/reba/status/2092321157106262090?s=20"> said</a>. “I’ll never forget the first time I met you, and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart.”
<a href="https://x.com/DollyParton/status/2092329891350159576?s=20">At Parton’s request,</a> a small, private service will be held for immediate family. The family is asking that, instead of flowers, donations be made to<a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/"> Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.</a>

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors – Season 1

‘The World Loves You’: Trump Orders Flags To Half-Staff For Dolly Parton

At least two women remain paralyzed and two others were injured after a pharmacy error led to all four being injected with the wrong drug prior to planned surgeries.
All four patients, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/nashville-hospital-medication-error-leaves-patient-paralyzed-routine-surgery-3-others-hurt">according</a> to Fox News Digital, were being prepared for joint replacement at Nashville&#8217;s Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown when a pharmacy error led to potassium being injected into their spines instead of the anesthetic they were supposed to receive.
Kristina Dorton says her mother-in-law, <a href="https://www.wowt.com/2026/08/20/family-says-medication-mix-up-hospital-left-72-year-old-paralyzed-least-4-patients-impacted/">Glenda Dorton</a>, 72, was paralyzed and has no feeling from her chest down after the injection — and that she knew something was wrong as soon as she woke up: &#8220;She was having a reaction; she was itchy. She said her whole body was burning, and she couldn&#8217;t feel her legs.&#8221;
According to the family, the knee replacement surgery was a success — but the complications resulting from receiving the wrong medication is going to have lasting impact.
&#8220;The joint replacement went wonderful. Her knee is great. The rest of her is not,&#8221; she told WKRN-TV, &#8220;It was supposed to be the anesthetic. It was supposed to be bupivacaine, and it was potassium, and we don’t know what quantity &#8230; We don’t know what recovery looks like or if there is recovery.&#8221;
&#8220;This is life-changing. You don’t come out of this without some type of life-altering, catastrophic deficit,&#8221; Dorton added, saying that nothing the doctors have tried so far has worked.
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of the hospital, released an official statement following the tragic mishap.
&#8220;Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event. On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We have met directly with each of the families to express our deep support, connected them with spiritual care teams and ensured they have access to all appropriate resources and ongoing care needed.&#8221;
&#8220;Providing safe, high-quality care is at the core of everything we do, and any gap in meeting that standard receives our immediate, uncompromising attention. The day of the event, we self-reported to state regulators and launched a thorough investigation. We identified the cause and have implemented corrective safeguards,&#8221; she added.
Citing patient privacy concerns, the hospital has not provided any details about the conditions of the three other patients affected — including the second woman reported to be paralyzed.
The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission&#8217;s investigating the hospital, as is the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Doctor hold syringe prepare for injection,Epidural analgesia,Epidural nerve block, spinal block,Health care concept.

Two Paralyzed After Hospital Injected Patients With Same Drug Used In Executions

Patient Paralyzed After Hospital Staffers Gave The Wrong Drug Before Surgery

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Three conservative states plan to carry out a rare triple execution Thursday involving men ages 42 to 70, two of whom are convicted of murdering women, and one is convicted of raping and murdering a 5-year-old girl.
For the first time in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/execution-death-penalty-tennessee-alabama-oklahoma-062c601ee0ff9a5f6d7b79045a0cc6b5">over a decade</a>, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Tennessee plan to execute three men by lethal injection on the same day, including a 66-year-old convicted of murdering a motel maid, a 70-year-old guilty of shooting his girlfriend, and a 42-year-old who confessed to the brutal slaying of a young girl he paid her mother to abuse. 
The United States has not executed three men on the same day since January 7, 2010, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/execution-death-penalty-tennessee-alabama-oklahoma-062c601ee0ff9a5f6d7b79045a0cc6b5">Associated Press</a>. 
In Alabama, Jeremy Williams, 42, is scheduled to die Thursday evening for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland, whose disappearance sparked a desperate search-and-rescue effort, <a href="https://www.wtvm.com/2026/08/13/jeremy-williams-set-execution-murder-5-year-old-kamarie-holland/">according to WTVM</a>. 
Phone records determined that Williams and the child&#8217;s mother, Kristy Siple, conspired the night before the 5-year-old was reported missing on December 13, 2021. Siple sold her daughter to Williams for $2,500 in exchange for one hour of oral sex. Police found the child’s strangled body dumped outside an abandoned home. 
A jury found Williams guilty on all capital murder charges, and a judge sentenced him to death. Williams later waived his appeals, allowing Republican Governor Kay Ivey to move up his execution date. The child’s mother is serving 20 years in prison for human sex trafficking charges, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/08/06/alabama-execution-jeremy-williams-kamarie-holland/91191606007/">according to USA Today</a>. 
“This guy brought a tremendous amount of pain and hurt to several, several little girls, and he don’t deserve to breathe the air that you and I breathe,” Sheriff Heath Taylor told <a href="https://www.wjtv.com/news/regional-news/5-year-old-kamarie-holland-was-not-the-only-victim-brutalized-by-alabama-death-row-inmate-jeremy-williams/">WJTV</a>. “And that’s just the way I feel.”
In Tennessee, Anthony Darrell Hines, 66, was scheduled to be executed at 10 a.m. local time Thursday at a maximum-security prison in Nashville for the 1985 murder of motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins, according to local outlet WZTV. A jury convicted Hines of first-degree felony murder after Jenkins was found naked, wrapped in a sheet, inside a motel room. Hines stabbed Jenkins multiple times in the chest and other areas of the body. 
Earlier this week, Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee refused to intervene to stop the execution.  
“After deliberate consideration of Anthony Darrell Hines’ request for clemency, and after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene,” he <a href="https://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-governor-bill-lee-declines-clemency-darrell-hines-execution-august-13-tony-carruthers-physician-lethal-injection">said</a>. 
In Oklahoma, Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, is set to die by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/execution-nitrogen-methods-lethal-52d43ab3f7da0e4c05144328be656854">lethal injection</a> at the state’s penitentiary for killing his longtime girlfriend more than 20 years ago. Rodriguez shot Olimpia Fisher in the eye in 2003 at the couple’s Oklahoma City home in what police described as a “gruesome and chaotic” scene, <a href="https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-carlos-cuesta-rodriguez-execution/73423160">according to KOCO.</a> 
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 in July against clemency, which Cuesta-Rodriguez told members he did not want.
&#8220;Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez violently assaulted and murdered an innocent mother,&#8221; Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement to <a href="https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-carlos-cuesta-rodriguez-execution/73423160">KOCO</a>. &#8220;Olimpia’s family has endured heartbreak for 23 years. Justice will be served when the death penalty is carried out.&#8221;
In July, Florida became the first state in nearly a decade to conduct two executions in a single day as Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration continues to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-set-to-carry-out-rare-double-executions-on-same-day">move on death penalty</a> cases at an unprecedented rate.
In April, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice directed the Bureau of Prisons to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-commuted-death-sentences-trumps-doj-is-bringing-back-the-firing-squad?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Biden+Commuted+Death+Sentences.+Trump%E2%80%99s+DOJ+Is+Bringing+Back+The+Firing+Squad.">bring back the firing squad and lethal injection</a> for federal executions.

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Red States Set To Carry Out Rare Same-Day Triple Execution

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Firebrand conservative and Trump-endorsed incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) lost to former Tennessee Agricultural Commissioner Charlie Hatcher on Thursday in a closely watched primary election. 
Ogles was defeated by Hatcher in Tennessee’s recently redrawn 5th Congressional District, which stretches from south of Nashville to parts of Memphis. Hatcher, endorsed by Republican Governor Bill Lee, won 53.2% of the vote to Ogles&#8217; 46.8%. 
Hatcher, who was agricultural commissioner from 2019 to 2025, emphasized his farming background in a significantly rural district. His campaign was boosted by the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a pro-solar energy PAC that dumped roughly $2 million into the race targeting Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. 
One of the top funders of the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition is Chris Larsen, a California billionaire who gave  $5,444,975 to support the pro-Kamala Harris Future Forward PAC in 2024, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-trump-ally-warns-super-pac-bankrolled-dem-billionaire-meddling-gop-primary">reported</a>. 
&#8220;When you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they&#8217;re making off of government subsidies, and they&#8217;re upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them,&#8221; Ogles said. 
Ads from the group did not focus on solar energy, but said he would support conservative policies. 
The House Freedom Caucus Fund, which ran ads in support of Ogles, decried the funding from the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition. The group <a href="https://x.com/FreedomCFund/status/2085558263945285696">said</a> he lost because a group “bankrolled by left-wing California Democrats spent $2 million to raid the Republican Primary.” 
The Invest In Tomorrow Coalition <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/07/how-solar-donors-helped-take-down-a-trump-backed-republican-01028209">said</a> it would “continue to punish members of either party who want to play politics with American jobs, energy security, and utility prices. The entire map is in play and we will take this fight across the country through November.”
The group also spent money opposing Rep. Chip Roy’s bid for Texas attorney general and Rep. Ralph Norman’s run for governor in South Carolina. 
Ogles’ defeat is a rare loss for a Trump-endorsed candidate. The president held a tele-rally in support of Ogles last week, where he urged his supporters to “get out and vote for Andy Ogles. He&#8217;s been a friend of mine.”
Hatcher, who bills himself as pro-gun, pro-life, and pro-Trump, will take on Democrat candidate Chaz Molder, the mayor of Columbia, Tennessee. The district is expected to be a win for Republicans in the general election as it went for Trump by double digits in 2024.

House Speaker Johnson Campaigns With Tennessee GOP Congressional Candidate Matt Van Epps

Trump-Backed Freedom Caucus Member Loses Primary Challenge

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Heroic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on duty arresting illegal immigrants stumbled upon a 2-year-old wandering the streets in nothing but a dirty diaper and stopped what they were doing to rescue him, The Daily Wire has learned.
On July 13, ICE officers conducting a &#8220;routine enforcement operation&#8221; outside Nashville in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, an area with a large population of illegal immigrants, were stopped in their tracks when they saw a small child who was wandering alone in the road in a heavily soiled diaper and was almost struck by a passing vehicle, the agency said. It appeared that the young child had been roaming the streets for several hours without any adult supervision.
The ICE officers, some of whom are fathers, quickly took the child into safety.
Officer Michael Joyce, who is part of an ICE Nashville Fugitive Operations Team, said the young boy was standing in the middle of the parking lot when he arrived. The brave officer blocked traffic while his team called local police and located the child&#8217;s mother, who was asleep in a nearby apartment with the door wide-open.
She appeared to be unaware that her son had wandered off.
“Our officers are trained to respond to emergencies and protect the public, no matter the circumstances,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans acting Field Office Director Scott Ladwig, whose office oversees operations in Tennessee, said in a statement.
“We’re grateful that our team was able to act quickly and help ensure this child’s safety,&#8221; Ladwig said. &#8220;Supporting our communities and working alongside local law enforcement is a responsibility we take seriously.&#8221;
The Murfreesboro Police Department returned the little boy to his mother, who told officers that it was the first time her child left their home alone, ICE said. No criminal charges were filed against the mother.
Officials also notified the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

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EXCLUSIVE: Heroic ICE Officers Rescue 2-Year-Old Roaming The Streets Alone

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Lorenzo Thompson, an illegal immigrant from Jamaica working as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, last week at the Nashville International Airport.
The Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2080391076532166771?s=20">told Fox</a> News that Thompson came to the United States on a six-month visa under Biden in 2021, but refused to leave when the visa expired.
&#8220;Against our nation’s laws, [Lorenzo Thompson] overstayed his visa and failed to depart. He will remain in ICE custody pending his immigration proceedings,&#8221; an ICE representative <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-arrests-southwest-airlines-flight-attendant-nashville-overstaying-visa-2021">told</a> Fox News.
The agency added that illegal immigrants like Thompson who self-deport are given $2,600 cash stipend, a free flight home, and the opportunity to return to the United States legally.
&#8220;We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream,&#8221; the agency said. &#8220;If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.&#8221;
Thompson’s local union chapter, TWU Local 556, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twulocal556/p/DbHTnc3js81/">said</a> it is in communication with Thompson’s family and is working with its legal counsel on how to address the situation.
“Our priority is, and always will be, standing with and supporting our Members,” it said in a statement. “Every Member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we are committed to ensuring this Member and their family know they are not alone during this difficult time.”
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LCLAA/photos/justice-for-lorenzo-justice-for-johan-justice-for-all-ice-outjoin-or-host-a-nati/1503261605171408/">Labor Council for Latin American Advancement</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/afacwa/posts/we-stand-with-twu-local-556-and-flight-attendant-lorenzo-wrongfully-detained-by-/1454153386748089/">Association of Flight Attendants</a> (AFA) both shared a statement of solidarity with Lorenzo.
“Today, we stand with our brother Enzo and his union family. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to standing by workers and their families through every challenge,” the AFA said.
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lorenzo-thompson-fight-ice-detention">GoFundMe</a> for Thompson started by his friend Kristin Foster has raised $43,018 of its $45,000 target as of Thursday afternoon.
“Lorenzo came to the United States legally from Jamaica in 2021, seeking safety from life-threatening abuse,” Foster stated. “Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to build a stable life, following every legal step toward citizenship. He has no criminal record. No parking tickets. He holds a valid work permit, has a pending case with US immigration and is a dedicated Flight Attendant for a beloved airline.”

Airplanes Docked at Palm Beach Airport

One Southwest Employee’s Final Boarding Call Came From ICE

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Driving down Tennessee roads with rolling green fields, a big blue sky, and beautiful 19th-century homes, I wasn’t sure what to expect from my interview with Lakelin Lemmings, but I couldn’t wait to find out. Three years ago, the rising star signed a publishing deal with Quartz Hill Records at 17 and a label deal at 19. Just days before the release of her debut album, the Gen Z singer spoke with me about her music, passion for God, goals of motherhood, and mission to &#8220;remain country.&#8221;
Lakelin arrived at the recording studio in a boot-cut denim jumpsuit and red paisley scarf around her neck, and I knew right away this girl wasn’t someone who takes herself too seriously. When I told her that we share the same birth year and I couldn’t wait to hear from a woman who’s dealing with the same issues as other Gen Z girls our age, she smiled. With Lakelin&#8217;s <a href="https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/1UnCpJJNyTv1D8nlKVlgiI">first album</a> coming out on Friday, she is excited.
“I&#8217;m feeling like all the hard work and stuff is about to pay off, and that hopefully everybody loves it as much as I do,” Lakelin said. “I think one of the earliest songs in the album I wrote was when I was freshly 16 and the last one when I turned 19. It&#8217;s finally gonna be introduced into the world.”
Many of the songs in the album tackle the topics of young love, relationships, and heartbreak. As someone who loves “How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days” and any good rom-com, Lakelin said she sometimes pulled inspiration from shows she watched, but she has also dealt with a series of her own relationship struggles.
Like other young women her age, Lakelin has had her share of situationships — a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experimentations/202403/are-you-in-a-situationship/amp?utm_source=chatgpt.com">term</a> Gen Z uses to describe a romantic relationship without commitment labels. Lakelin&#8217;s song “What Are We Doing” is trying to figure out just that. In “Get Around Boy,” the song lists the places Lakelin hopes to travel to and describes a young man who stays behind in Tennessee as she chases her dreams. Eventually, Lakelin did travel to nearly all the places she mentions, and now says she has a boy “in the back of my mind.”
As the title “19 &amp; Single” suggests, the song touches on the pressure to get married with lyrics like, “I’m all for a Friday night with the girls / &#8216;Cause 19 and single ain’t the end of the world.” Lakelin said she feels pressure when friends get engaged, married, and start having babies. With earnest hopes for marriage and motherhood, Lakelin said she has made sacrifices to be where she is, but still wants to perform her music and pursue her dreams.
Not all of Lakelin&#8217;s lyrics were inspired by what you’d expect. After singing along in the car to Lakelin’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbHG1muBl1G/?hl=en">“He Ain’t Coming Back,”</a> I had to get the scoop behind this earworm. Another smile.
“Yeah, so everybody thinks that, you know, ‘He Ain&#8217;t Coming Back’ is about some boy that did me wrong and something like that,” Lakelin said. “But the story of it is actually — I was finishing up writing the album and we needed an up-tempo song.” 
Just days before it was time to record the album, Lakelin texted her two favorite co-writers to tell them the emergency: They had to come up with one more track. They convened on a Friday, but the co-writers had to cancel another appointment to make the timing work. 
“We get there, and we’re writing, and we hadn&#8217;t really gotten a title or anything yet, and — a knock on the door. It&#8217;s the guy that they were supposed to write with,” Lakelin said.
After the co-writers explained the rescheduling and the man’s confusion passed, he left. But the situation was “just really awkward,” Lakelin said.
“My co-writer, after he leaves, is like, ‘Man, I hope he comes back,’ and I just look at him, and I go, ‘Oh, he ain&#8217;t coming back.’ And a light bulb and a flip switched, and we were like, ‘We&#8217;re writing that.’”
Throughout Lakelin’s journey, her faith in God has been central. There have been difficult moments, Lakelin said, but she believes “God’s called me to country music.” Lakelin describes herself as a Christian who writes country music, not as a Christian country artist.
“I feel like there&#8217;s a need in country music for somebody that loves country music and can talk about those types of things, but also is rooted in her faith and is genuinely someone who&#8217;s only after God&#8217;s will,” Lakelin said, noting that Christian country singers often sing traditional Christian songs that feel less “country.”
“I love Christian music, and I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll dabble in it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I have a little bit to keep the faith life of mine, but I&#8217;m always going to remain country.”
As someone who stays with her family whenever she’s not on the road, Lakelin loves seeing her two little sisters — aged one and three — who know her as “Lae Lae.” Lakelin said she’s like their second mother, with a large age gap between them and the three oldest siblings. Lemmings was the middle child for years with her now 23-year-old sister, whom she would compete with in singing, and a 17-year-old brother. However, after the first daughter left the nest, Lemmings said her parents wanted more kids, dreaming of having a family of eight.
Lakelin’s family couldn&#8217;t be more supportive of her burgeoning music career. Since she was little, Lakelin has performed in competitions, and her extended family still recalls when she was performing at their barbecue singing competition. Lakelin said she does wonder what they think watching her grow from small performances to standing on grand stages. 
How does she stay grounded in some sort of routine with a life that is always moving from writing and recording sessions to performances and tours? She named only two things: her coffee in the morning and her Bible in the evening. 
“After a long week or a long day in the music world, I like to just go home and have a cup of coffee, read my Bible, maybe tan a little bit, and just spend time with family and friends,” she said.
Lakelin has a message to other girls who are dreamers with a desire from God but see too many roadblocks.
“If you&#8217;re gonna be a dreamer, you got to be a doer. And I think that if you have a dream, then chase it,” Lakelin said. “If it&#8217;s God&#8217;s will and his plan, then it&#8217;s going to work out just the way it&#8217;s supposed to. It&#8217;s going to be hard at times to trust that and trust in Him, but you just got to keep the faith.”
***
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

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