08/25/2026
There are some people who simply feel larger than life, and Dolly Parton has always been one of those people to me (and my family - we spend the entire holiday season playing “Hard Candy Christmas” on repeat like no other music exists).
I’m heartbroken to learn about the passing of Dolly. She is a true Super Leader in every sense of the word, and an inspiration for the program.
She rose from incredibly humble beginnings to become the Rhinestone Queen, a champion for children, and a literacy goddess who changed millions of lives through the gift of books. But what has always inspired me most is that, no matter how far she rose, she never seemed to forget where she came from.
That is the kind of Super Leader I want my kids to know.
One of my favorite Super Leaders projects from the past few years was inspired by Dolly’s song Coat of Many Colors. Available for free on the Reach for the Stars ATX website under Fun Freebies, this craft encourages children to create their own colorful “coat” while reflecting on gratitude, love, pride, and the idea that some of life’s greatest treasures cannot be bought.
Dolly showed us that you can come from very little and still give the world so very much.
Thank you, Dolly, for reminding generations of children (and big kids like me) that kindness has value, dreams are worth chasing, books can change lives, and there is always room for a little more sparkle.
Go rest among the stars. You’ve certainly earned your place there.
Find the“Coat of Many Colors” project under Fun Freebies at reachforthestarsATX.com, and give your kids the gift of Dolly.