08/26/2026
💔 I still can’t believe we lost such a kind and beautiful soul as Dolly Parton yesterday.
Like so many others, I spent part of last night watching the replays, interviews and reels being shared on the late-night shows. One thing remained consistent throughout every single one: Dolly’s kindness, her wonderful sense of humor and her genuinely positive attitude about life. She had a way of making everyone feel seen, welcomed and loved.
Angela and I truly enjoyed designing our tribute shirts yesterday. It became an exercise in thoughtfulness as we reflected on who Dolly was, what she represented and what someone who loved her might want to wear in her honor.
Most people immediately think of pink when they think of Dolly—and it was certainly one of her signature colors—but did you know her favorite colors were actually white and yellow? Dolly said white made her feel “light and airy,” while yellow simply made her happy. 💛🤍
The butterfly was also very special to Dolly. She had loved butterflies since childhood and admired them for being gentle, beautiful and free-spirited. She related those qualities to her own personality and eventually claimed the butterfly as her personal symbol. It appeared throughout her life and career, from the Dollywood logo to her 1974 song, “Love Is Like a Butterfly.”
That made my decision to create a pink and yellow butterfly for our song-tribute shirt feel even more meaningful. The pink represents the glamorous Dolly everyone recognizes, while the yellow represents the color that brought her happiness. 🦋
Thank you so much to everyone who jumped online and ordered a tribute shirt yesterday. Angela and I will be working on those orders today, and we are truly honored to make them for you.
We also want everyone to know that Grace & Grit Designs will donate $1 from every Dolly tribute shirt sold to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—the charity that was so close to her heart.
Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father, who never had the opportunity to learn to read or write. What began by mailing free books to young children in her home county in East Tennessee grew into an international literacy program that has gifted more than 300 million books to children from birth to age five. Today, it mails millions of free, age-appropriate books to children every month, regardless of their family’s income.
Dolly was a quiet philanthropist for many years, supporting children’s literacy, education, scholarships, disaster relief and medical research—often without seeking recognition or praise. Her generosity changed lives, and we hope this small contribution helps continue the work she cared about so deeply.
Rest in peace, Dolly Parton. You will never be forgotten. 🦋💛🤍
“I will always love you.”
