Saint Dolly | 50

In our 50th episode, we celebrate a woman so talented, kind, sincere, and funny that many people call her “Saint Dolly.” That’s right - it was long past time that we dedicate an episode to singer, actress, philanthropist, and Christmas-enthusiast Dolly Parton. 

We’ll discuss her history, her rise to fame, some of our favorite Dolly songs and films, her charitable work and giving, and how she became the best thing about 2020 and just about the only thing all Americans can agree on. 

Want extra reading? Check out our sources:

• NYT: The Grit and Glory of Dolly Parton
• LA Times: Country Stars 'Break the Silence' on AIDS : Campaign: Clint Black, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are among 35 performers who will appear in print, radio and television ads beginning Jan. 13.
• Guardian: Working-class women are too busy for gender theory – but they're still feminists 
• CNN: Dolly Parton learned she funded the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine when the rest of us did
• The Boot: Dolly Parton and Charity Work
• NPR: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Delivers 100 Millionth Book : NPR Ed
• Tennessean: Obama says it was a 'screw up' not awarding Dolly Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
• PARTON, DOLLY, and Karen Jaehne. "CEO and Cinderella: AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLLY PARTON." Cinéaste 17, no. 4 (1990): 16-19. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41692590.
• Hoppe, Graham. "Icon and Identity: Dolly Parton’s Hillbilly Appeal." Southern Cultures 23, no. 1 (2017): 49-62. Accessed December 1, 2020. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26391677.
• Pennisi, Elizabeth, and Nigel Williams. "Will Dolly Send in the Clones?" Science 275, no. 5305 (1997): 1415-416. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2892255.

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.