Goodbye Dolly

Growing up we’d gather round the TV to watch The Grand Ole Opry, Hee-Haw on the regular, and any countrified special that aired. Every character on those stages were larger than life, though sequins likely added to this magnification. Minnie Pearl had that tag hanging off her hats and a wide grin like my Aunt Mildred… Porter played the good guy, but it was the man in black that felt like the real hero… Loretta had frills, Patsy had jackets with long fringe, and Dolly? She had extra sparkle. She always kept one foot on the stage but found new places to show up — sometimes encouraging attention and some behind the scenes. I’ve been watching her performances (here’s a playlist of all the following videos)… an early trio of Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow, again with Emmylou and Ronstadt doing After the Gold Rush on Letterman, In the Pines with her parents, Moses with Bette Midler, and Travelin’ Thru at the 2006 Oscars. (And this one later gleaned from Austin Kleon’s newsletter: Do I…