Dear Saint Dolly Parton, Colorado will always love and cherish your legacy | Music City Minute

“When I’m done, I can rest in peace knowing I’ve done my best. I hope that when my time comes, I’ll leave something behind that others can use to lift themselves up.”

For many fans in Colorado, Dolly Parton has always felt like family. Her heartfelt storytelling in beloved songs like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors”  and “I Will Always Love You” have been the soundtrack to road trips through the Rockies, family gatherings, and countless moments shared around the radio. Colorado audiences have welcomed her throughout the years, from her appearances at the Denver Coliseum and Ebbets Field in 1974, Ebbets Field and Regis College Fieldhouse in 1977, Denver’s Carousel Ball in 1981, McNichols Sports Arena in 1985 and again with Kenny Rogers in 1986. More recently, fans packed Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 27, 2016, for a sold-out stop on her Pure & Simple Tour, creating one of the most memorable country music nights in the venue’s history. Beyond the stage, Dolly’s impact can be felt across Colorado through her Imagination Library program, which helps provide free books to children and encourages a lifelong love of reading. That commitment to education and literacy has touched families throughout communities across the state, making her influence far greater than music alone. Whether you were lucky enough to see her under the stars at Red Rocks or simply grew up hearing her songs on 98.5 KYGO-FM, Dolly’s legacy will forever shine through her music, her generosity and her unwavering belief in the power of education.

I’m Sheena, and that’s your Music City Minute.