08/27/2026
I was saddened to learn of Miss Dolly Parton’s passing. Her music and movies have been part of my life for as long as I can remember — from childhood all the way to today. Whether it was classics like Jolene or iconic films like 9 to 5, she had a way of making you smile, laugh, or think a little deeper.
But the work of hers that stuck with me the most wasn’t one of the big hits. In 1992, when I was still just an older kid, she starred in a movie called Straight Talk. In that film, she sang a song by the same name — and anyone who knows me personally understands why that one hit home. For better or worse, I’ve never been known for sugarcoating anything. Dolly’s message about honesty, clarity, and saying what needs to be said shaped more of my early thinking than I realized at the time.
If you have a free moment and want to remember a wonderful lady who did wonderful things — many of which never made the spotlight — take an hour or two and watch Straight Talk. It’s funny, it’s warm, and it shows the comedic and musical genius that made Dolly Parton such a gift to all of us.