September 1, 2026….A week in a world without Dolly…
“…just when I’m about to get myself together…”
It’s been one week in a world without Dolly, and the social media platforms and 24/7 news cycle are still filled with songs, stories, video clips, and tributes about her.
And I’m just fine with that.
I will welcome all the stories the internet can hold about such an amazing human being who was beloved the world over. I need to be encouraged and inspired by her selfness acts of love and generosity for as long as I can as a means of resistance against the days of darkness that push so hard against the light.
I had the great fortune of meeting Dolly twice—once backstage at the Grand Ole Opry when I was working with Connie Smith, and again four years ago when, through the kindness of a friend, I was offered a seat at a fundraiser where Dolly was the featured guest. In the few moments we spoke, there was no hint of pretense or falsehood—just genuine Dolly. I truly believe that the light and joy that emanated from her was a manifestation of her deep faith within.
In the dozens and dozens of clips I watched this past week, one stood out in particular as if meant just for me. It was a string of clips filmed in 2025 and the first half of 2026 showing Dolly promoting several upcoming projects of hers. My guess is she may have known she might not be around for all of them, so she was making sure she was doing the work that was hers, and hers alone, to complete the projects. Seeing the clips and reading how she was prepping her team for the work ahead brought some clarity of thought to my own mind, along with a fresh dose of gratitude.
Creative work is harder than most people know. How blessed am I, in these ‘golden years,’ to have the health, the resources, and the time to work on the ‘things that are mine to do—which means having the courage and wisdom to say ‘no’ to the things that are not mine to do (for you enneagram nerds, IYKYK).
I love that Dolly said most identified as a writer and storyteller—I feel the same way. Here’s a great clip of her talking about that:
One of my most rewarding experiences as a songwriter was helping others find their ‘voice’ and tell their stories through being part of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s Songs From The Heart workshops for over a decade, thanks to my friend and social worker extraordinaire, Cindy. I would be paired up with cancer patients, caregivers, and medical professionals for a two day workshop, teach a few songwriting fundamentals, then do some ‘deep listening’ as participants shared what they were going through. Songs were crafted, and the workshop always ended with a public performance of the newly written songs. These songs were some of the most meaningful in my writing career.
Last year an old songwriter friend of mine in Nashville who helped with the workshop, reached out to me that he was producing a demo of one of the workshop songs because he thought it might be a good ‘pitch’ for Dolly’s upcoming Broadway show, Dolly: A True Original Musical. The song is called “Life Is Hard (But God Is Good)” and you can hear it below. I’m pretty sure the music for the show has all been locked in by now, but just the thought of the song having been pitched to Dolly felt like a full circle moment for me.
So let the songs and stories and tributes keep coming…I’ve got my pen and notebook close by as I get ready for week number two in a world without Dolly.
Thank you, Dolly, for all your songs and all the goodness that came from your sweet Smoky mountain heart…we will always love you.
If you’d like to read this blog on my Substack account, here’s the link: