Dolly Parton donation helped develop vaccine 0:54
Editor's Note:
Gene Seymour is a critic who has written about music, movies, and culture for The New York Times, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly, and The Washington Post.
Follow him on Twitter: @GeneSeymour.
The opinions expressed in this comment are solely those of the author.
You can find more opinion pieces at CNNe.com/opinion.
(CNN) -
Are we living in the world of Dolly Parton?
Has it been your world all this time?
Please be patient while we weigh the evidence.
When Apollo 8 orbited the Moon during Christmas week 1968, there was a widespread belief that its three astronauts had "saved" that otherwise turbulent and tragic year from an eternally bitter aftertaste.
Well, maybe everything was more complicated than a polarized citizenry was willing to admit in that year of murder, street violence and political unrest.
And things didn't necessarily improve after the historic flight.
But it made many Americans feel good to think that in the moment, and that is how they still remember it 52 years later.
We are now ending a year worse than 1968. In addition to street violence, political turmoil and a polarized citizenry, 2020 has been horribly disfigured by a global pandemic that endangers lives, deactivates the economy, and limits us from full comfort and joy. we look forward to the holiday season.
So where is our Apollo 8?
If in 1968 Borman, Lovell and Anders read the Book of Genesis on Christmas Eve on the lunar surface, what then - or whom - does 2020 have as its potential savior?
Or even "savior"?
How about Dolly Parton, the rhinestone crested songbird from Pittman Center, Tennessee?
The most indelible of our living country music icons?
The flamboyant scholar who wrote two immortal American classics, "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," in less time than it takes to boil steel cut oats?
Dolly Parton as our savior?
Agree.
In recent weeks, he has garnered waves of gratitude from fans and non-fans for the $ 1 million donation he made in April to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (in his home state).
The donation helped fund the early stages of research for a coronavirus vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna, research that is already showing very encouraging results.
Dolly Parton poses for a portrait around 1972.
The promising news sparked a storm of praise on Twitter for Parton and his good deeds.
He also brought Ryan Cordell, associate professor of English at Northeastern University in Boston, to perform (in a video) singing "Vaccine," a tribute to both Parton and her generosity to the music of the aforementioned "Jolene" and with a letter written (and tweeted) by the Canadian linguist Gretchen McCulloch: «Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacuuuuuna….
/ I beg you to please let go of my arm… ».
All of which coincides with the release of a new Parton album, "A Holly Dolly Christmas" (Butterfly Records) and the Netflix premiere last weekend of "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square," a Christmas musical based on a play whose music and lyrics were written by Parton.
Dolly Parton in "Christmas on the Square."
The show, which co-stars Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis and Treat Williams, and is choreographed by Debbie Allen, combines "A Christmas Carol" and "It's a Wonderful Life" to represent an idyllic multicultural community whose residents are within walking distance. About to be evicted from their homes and businesses on Christmas Eve by Baranski's vengeful and cold-hearted heiress.
Parton (of course) plays an angel who disarms these plans.
If there's one thing that's familiar about her character, it's probably from the 1996 film "Unlikely Angel," in which she played a prematurely dead country singer seeking to prove her merits through a good deed.
(In this new role she even has an apprentice, played by Jeanine Mason, who works undercover as Baranski's frivolous assistant.)
And last but not least, there are two recently published books that bring the life, work and powerful influence of Dolly Parton to the fore.
This is "She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs" (Scribner), in which the journalist Sarah Smarsh does a cultural investigation on the influence of Parton as a composer and role model in the women of working class who seek to grow and transcend.
And then there's "Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton" (University of Illinois), a detailed and astute analysis by music professor Lydia R. Hamessley of Parton's compositions.
If all this is enough to make you say, either in amazement or terror, "Dolly is boss!" ... well, you may not get the point.
First of all, Parton's messianic power as a musician, entrepreneur, and cultural heroine is old news for anyone who pays attention even occasionally.
Second, and this is important, it was never Dolly Parton's intention to dominate and own the world, her own or anyone else's.
As "Christmas on the Square" reinforces her audience, she has only been interested in shining and sharing the light where there is darkness.
And that includes the shadows that have haunted our lives since Covid-19 began to make its way perfidiously into our lives.
I mean… it would be nice if Dolly Parton or someone like her ruled the world.
For now, let's say you own the parties this year.
Or at least he saved them and, quite possibly, us too.
Dolly parton
