The Enduring Legacy of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, has left an indelible mark on the music industry. With timeless hits like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “Coat of Many Colors,” she has captivated audiences for decades. Parton’s songwriting talent and unique voice have made her a true icon in the world of music.

Not only did she write and record the original version of “I Will Always Love You,” but she has also graced the silver screen, written books, and made her mark as a successful businesswoman and humanitarian.

Dolly Parton grew up ‘dirt poor’ and never saw a toilet until she was eight years old; she now generously donates to charities.

A Childhood Shaped by Poverty

Born on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee, Dolly Parton grew up in humble circumstances. The fourth of twelve children, she experienced firsthand the hardships of poverty. Her father was an illiterate sharecropper, and her mother, of Welsh descent, entertained the family with stories and ballads. Despite their financial struggles, Parton’s parents ensured that their children had food, shelter, and clothing. Parton fondly recalls her childhood, saying:

“We were poor, but I never felt poor. We always had enough to eat, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. Mama and Daddy would point out others who were worse off than us. Everything felt normal to me. It’s only when you look back on eating beans and cornbread, sharing beds, using newspaper for insulation, and using an outhouse that you realize, yes, we were poor.”

Learning Life’s Essentials

Growing up in a crowded one-room cabin near the Little Pigeon River, the Parton family spent most of their time outdoors due to the limited space. In a surprising revelation, Parton admitted that she didn’t see a toilet until she was eight years old when visiting her aunt’s house. She was hesitant to use it, fearing it might “suck them right down.” Parton also revealed that they made their own soap and bathed only once a week during the winter. However, in high school, she had to wash every day because she and her siblings slept together and “the kids peed on me every night.”

Family Influence and Career Success

Despite the challenges she faced, Parton attributes much of her success to her family. They have always been her greatest love and have played a significant role in her music. Her genuine love for her family shines through in her lyrics and performances.

With a net worth of $375 million, Dolly Parton’s generosity matches her incredible wealth. In 1988, she established the Dollywood Foundation, initially providing scholarships to students from her former high school. Over time, the foundation expanded to benefit students from various schools and deserving teachers. One of its standout programs is the Imagination Library, founded in 1995 as a tribute to Parton’s father. It initially served Tennessee and has now reached all 50 states, delivering approximately 1.3 million books to nearly two million children each month. When the initiative celebrated its 100 millionth book delivery in 2018, Parton admitted she never anticipated its immense success.

Acts of Kindness in Difficult Times

During times of hardship, Dolly Parton has stepped up to donate and raise funds for those in need. In response to the devastating wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains in 2016, she established the My People Fund, which raised over $9 million to assist 900 families. She also contributed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after her niece successfully received leukemia treatment.

Parton’s charitable efforts extend beyond these instances. She has supported organizations such as the American Red Cross, charities fighting HIV/AIDS, and animal rights organizations. In 2020, she became a vocal advocate for Covid vaccines, and her $1 million contribution played a crucial role in the development of the Moderna vaccine.

Giving with a Generous Heart

Dolly Parton’s acts of kindness come from the heart. She admits to being addicted to the sensation of giving and finding joy in making a difference in the lives of others. Her background undoubtedly influences her commitment to giving back to the community. Parton’s remarkable journey from poverty to success has shaped her into a compassionate and generous soul.

What do you think of Dolly Parton’s generosity? Do you believe her background influences her philanthropic endeavors? Share your thoughts with us and spread the word about this incredible woman and her charitable work.

When we think of strong, loving Hollywood couples, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick come to mind.

They have been married for over 30 years, celebrating their 35th anniversary this year with a sweet throwback photo on social media.

Despite their long careers in the entertainment industry, there was a time when they lost millions…

In 2009, their lives turned upside down when they got caught in Bernie Madoff’s infamous Ponzi scheme, which was the largest in history. This scam cost them up to $30 million, as estimated by StyleCaster. Bacon mentioned on the SmartLess podcast that they lost “most of our money.”

They were just two of many celebrities and high-profile figures who were scammed by Madoff’s “too good to be true” financial schemes.

“There are obvious life lessons here. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Bacon told hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. “When something like that happens, you look at each other and say, ‘Well, that sucks. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.’”

Despite the setback, 65-year-old Bacon and 58-year-old Sedgwick used the adversity as an opportunity to reflect and focus on the positives. “We’ve made it this far, our kids are healthy, we’re healthy. Let’s look at what we have that’s good,” Bacon said on the October 2022 podcast.

Bacon and Sedgwick decided to step away from the spotlight and Hollywood, finding peace and happiness on a cozy farm in Connecticut.

Over time, they shared glimpses of their daily lives on social media. Sedgwick posted so many videos of her and their goats on TikTok that people now recognize her more for that than her acting roles!

“People say, ‘We love you singing with the goats.’ Kevin and I are like, ‘Great, but have you seen our movies or TV shows?’ But it makes people happy,” the actress and producer told People in March this year.

Interestingly, Bacon and Sedgwick aren’t the only celebs drawn to farm life. In fact, famed actress Jennifer Garner decided to buy back the farm her mother grew up on and transform it into an organic produce project for baby food.

What do you think of celebs gravitating towards farm life? Do you think it would be a nice break from the fast-paced Hollywood experience? Let us know in the comments!

Laura Ingraham, a famous Fox News host, has a captivating personality and a powerful voice. But who is she off-camera? Let’s learn more about this remarkable woman.

Born on June 19, 1963, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Laura grew up in a working-class family. Her dad, James, a World War II veteran, owned a car wash, and her mom, Anne, worked at a school and as a waitress. With three older brothers, Laura describes her childhood as “rough and tumble.”

After graduating from Glastonbury High School in 1981, Laura attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. She became known as the editor-in-chief of the conservative Dartmouth Review newspaper. She stirred controversy by sending an undercover reporter to investigate an LGBTQ university organization.

After college, Laura worked as a speechwriter for the Reagan administration and the Secretary of Transportation. She later became a judicial clerk before entering the media world in the mid-1990s. She hosted “Watch It!” on MSNBC and started her popular radio program, “The Laura Ingraham Show,” becoming a prominent conservative voice in politics.

Laura’s TV career took off when she guest-hosted “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News, leading to her own show, “The Ingraham Angle,” which became an instant hit.

Laura’s eloquence and genuine approach to political and cultural commentary made her one of the most influential women in the industry. She has appeared on the cover of “The New York Times Magazine” and authored several New York Times best-selling books.

While her career and conservative views make headlines, her personal life also interests many. Despite dating prominent men like political pundit Keith Olbermann and former Senator Robert Torricelli, Laura has chosen not to marry.

She focuses on her career and her three adopted children. As an advocate for adoption, Laura has welcomed Maria from Guatemala and sons Dmitri and Nikolai from Russia into her home.

Laura Ingraham’s journey from a journalist to a top talk show host is truly inspiring. Her strong opinions and dedication have made her a powerful figure in the media industry.

Don’t forget to share this incredible story with your friends and family!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll take a degree of interest in the evolving careers of actors and singers.

That happened to me recently when I came upon a certain actress and model that I hadn’t seen in years. In the ’80’s and ’90s’, Erika Eleniak graced our TV sets through appearances in numerous series, stealing the hearts of many and making it rather difficult to look away.

Through the years, Erika worked as a model before becoming a mainstay in Baywatch. She also featured in minor roles in such projects as Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, The Blob, The Beverly Hillbillies and Chasers.

Somehow – and no, I don’t quite believe it either – the blonde bombshell recently turned 53 years old!

So what is she doing these days? Has she retained that radiant beauty? Here’s all you need to know about Erika Eleniak …

Erika Eleniak was born on September 29 in Glendale, California. She has Ukrainian heritage on her father’s side, while her mother is of Estonian and German descent.

For some future stars, it’s a long time before they realize that they have the ambition to get in front of a camera and perform for others, but it would appear that Eleniak’s potential was clear from an early age.

At just 12, she landed her very first feature-film role when she appeared in the 1982 blockbuster E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. It was a small role and required only that she be kissed by the film’s main character, Elliott, in the classroom scene.

Even so, it paved the way for a string of other appearances, which though minor, would lay the groundwork for bigger roles later on.

At 18, Erika played the role of Vicki De Soto, a victim of the creature in 1988 horror film The Blob. She then went on to get work in the 1993 film adaption of The Beverly Hillbillies, starring as Elly May Clampett, and played the girlfriend of John Stamos’s Jesse in a 1990 episode of Full House.

Yet, without a doubt, the role many people will remember her for came via Baywatch, in which she starred from 1989 to 1992. Aged just 20, Erika portrayed Shauni McClain in what would turn out to be a career-defining role.

Her character is initially a young upstart in the Baywatch team of lifeguards, but is taken under the wing of Jill Riley (played by Shawn Weatherley), the most experienced member of the team.

Fans of the show will quite rightly often associate Pamela Anderson with being the beautiful blonde known to TV history, but before Pamela’s footprints were left in the sand, there was Erika.

In an interview earlier this year, she said: “I loved being there, and I loved the role, especially the second season.

“I got some great storylines. I really got to dig my chops into some good acting roles.

“We did Baywatch to be a serious look at lifeguarding. There were cop shows, doctor shows, lawyer shows and no lifeguard shows.”

Yet given the show’s oftentimes scantily-clad nature and booming success, it later began to change direction. The result was something Erika wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

“For me, as soon as it became even sexier, when it became syndicated, it was definitely not comfortable.

“It ended up being a bit of a push and pull between myself and the producer sometimes.

“So when Pamela came on, it was just the perfect fit for Baywatch – she was definitely footloose and fancy-free and loved being more of an exhibitionist than I did.”
Erika left Baywatch 1992 when Pamela Anderson came on the scene, but her role will always be remembered fondly.

“I feel like it was good timing. I got to do one year where it was really conservative on NBC and one year in syndication,” she explained. “And the cast and crew were phenomenal. It was a great experience.”

Erika’s personal life
Interestingly enough, Baywatch also impacted Erika’s personal life, too. At one point in time, she was engaged to co-star Billy Warlock, who had also played her love interest on the show. The two, however, were not meant to be.

Instead, she married bodybuilder Philip Goglia in 1998, only for the pair to divorce just sixth months later. It wasn’t until she filmed the 2001 flick Snowbound that Erika found true love when she began dating key grip Roch Daigle, who had also worked on the film.

The couple would go on to marry, with Erika purchasing a home in Calgary, where Roch lived. She fell pregnant in 2005, but suffered a miscarriage at just six and a half weeks.

The pair were more fortunate the next time around, when Erika fell pregnant with, and then gave birth to, a healthy baby girl.

As you can imagine, Erika’s lived a hectic life in and out of the show business spotlight. And yet, to look at her, you can still see every ounce of the shining beauty that caught the eyes of so many TV viewers back in the day.

In fact, one could go as far as to say that Erika, having turned 53 in September of this year, is proof that the aging process doesn’t have to be seen as a vice to be feared. On the contrary, more recent pictures prove that she’s still very much beautiful, both inside and out.

What she’s doing now

Though it’s true Erika isn’t super active in front of the camera these days – she’s only made sporadic appearances in films over the past few years – she keeps herself busy.

As per her Instagram account – on which she regularly posts pictures and updates to her 44,000 followers – she’s also the creator/host of The Spiritual Alchemy Podcast, and describes herself as a ‘proud mama’.

Many people may have forgotten about Erika Eleniak, but I certainly haven’t. Admittedly I was a huge fan of Baywatch during the show’s early days, so perhaps that’s why, but I just get such healthy, positive vibes from the life Erika’s led to date and the one she continues to lead.

Please, share this article on Facebook if you were or are a fan of Erika, and if you think she remains stunningly beautiful to this day.

Celebrity kids today often build their entire careers with social media, but that seems to the last thing that Jennifer Garner wants for her three children

Celebrity kids today can build entire careers through Instagram and Twitter, but that’s the last thing that Jennifer Garner wants for her two daughters and son.

The actress, 46, told Fox News in an interview published Tuesday that the idea of her children — Samuel Garner, 6½, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, 9½, and Violet Anne, 12 — having social media scares her.

“My kids don’t have any social media yet, and I am terrified,” she said. “I think it puts so, so much pressure on kids at an age when they’re really vulnerable anyway.”

She also asked fellow parents for advice about protecting kids from the dangers of life online. “You know, if anyone has any clues, let me know,” she said, adding, “I am probably overprotective.”

Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus  celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Parents newsletter.

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The Peppermint star shares her three kids with ex Ben Affleck. She and the Justice League actor, 46, married in 2005, announced their separation 10 years later and filed for divorce in April 2017.

The former couple was seen together recently when Garner drove Affleck to a Malibu treatment center.

A source close to Garner recently told PEOPLE that when it comes to talking to her children about their father’s addiction issues, “There are no secrets, and Jen is great at explaining what’s going on in ­age-appropriate ways.”

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Affleck has said in the past that he wants to be healthy and present for his children. In March 2017, he revealed on Facebook that he had once again completed treatment.

“I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be,” he wrote. “I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it.”

Jennifer Garner and boyfriend John Miller are happy together after taking some time apart, a source tells PEOPLE.

“They have a very special relationship,” says the source, adding that the couple rekindled their romance a year ago. “It’s never been the easiest one though since they both have families. They took a long break from dating, but Jen is very happy that they are back together.”

The pair first connected back in 2018, shortly before Garner finalized her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck, with whom she shares three kids — Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 10. Miller, who is chairman and CEO of Cali Group, owner of the CaliBurger restaurant chain, has two children with his ex-wife, violinist Caroline Campbell.

By 2020, it seemed that Garner and Miller had broken up. The following year, however, the couple appeared to be back on when they were spotted spending time together on several occasions.

Garner and Miller — who are private about their relationship, having never spoken about their romance publicly — were photographed over the weekend holding hands on a walk together in Santa Barbara, Calif.

When Garner and Miller started dating five years ago, a source told PEOPLE, “Although the divorce was just finalized, Jen has considered herself single for a long time. Dating is just a natural step. Jen will always care about Ben and help him be the best dad. She was very ready to move on though. She seems very excited about the future and is in a great place both personally and professionally.”

Garner, 50, told PEOPLE in March 2021 that the idea of getting married again wasn’t an immediate thought.

“I don’t know. I’m so far from it. And I don’t know that marriage would need to be a part… I mean I definitely don’t think that I’ll be single forever,” she said at the time. “But this is not the time. I don’t need to complicate it. I’m good.”

After two unsuccessful marriages, Harrison Ford, at the age of 67, found love with a much younger woman and even adopted her son, feeling rejuvenated and smitten with his third wife.

The actor, known for his reserved nature, openly praised his spouse and embraced a serene life on a farm, relishing their time together amidst nature.

Harrison Ford had been married twice before meeting and falling in love with actress Calista Flockhart at the age of 67.

His first marriage was to Mary Marquardt in 1964, with whom he had two sons. Despite finding fame with “Star Wars” in 1977, the marriage couldn’t withstand the pressures of Hollywood.

His second marriage, to Melissa Mathison in 1983, also ended in divorce. The couple had a son and a daughter together, but their union faltered, leading to a substantial financial settlement upon divorce.

In 2003, Ford publicly declared his love for Calista Flockhart, whom he had been dating since 2002.

Despite their significant age gap, the couple’s bond remained strong, culminating in a Valentine’s Day proposal in 2009 and a wedding in June 2010.

Prior to their marriage, Flockhart had adopted a son named Liam in 2001. Upon marrying Ford, he formally adopted Liam, expanding their family.

Despite his previous reservations about fatherhood, Ford embraced his role as a parent to Liam, finding fulfillment in being part of his upbringing.

He spoke fondly of the joys of parenthood and praised Flockhart for her dedication to their son.

The couple’s relationship was characterized by mutual love and respect, with Ford expressing admiration for Flockhart’s qualities as a mother and partner.

Their shared interests, including flying and philanthropy, further strengthened their bond.

Their tranquil life on a ranch in Wyoming provided a haven away from the spotlight, where they enjoyed activities together and cherished family moments.

Despite the challenges they faced, including Ford’s recovery from a plane crash in 2015, the couple remained devoted to each other, finding solace in their enduring love and companionship.

As they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in 2020, Ford reflected on the lessons learned from their marriage, emphasizing the importance of communication and humor in sustaining their relationship.

“Patrick is the only one who really anyone should try it with, because he was just such a good ballet dancer,” Grey told E! News of her late costar

Jennifer Grey is revealing some Dirty Dancing secrets!

Speaking with E! News recently, the actress said she and Patrick Swayze “never rehearsed” the now-iconic end scene in which Swayze’s Johnny Castle lifts her character Frances “Baby” Houseman in the air during their final dance number.

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“There was no room for a panic attack,” said Grey, 63, of filming the famous moment in the 1987 romance with Swayze, who died in 2009 at age 57 from pancreatic cancer.

The actress recalled to E! News that she gave a “hard no” to running through the move ahead of time, as she was “really scared and protective” of her body then, but had “no choice” when the time came to actually film the scene.

“If you’ve ever tried it, you’d understand what it means to do it,” Grey said. “It was one of those game-day things.”

 Jennifer Grey Says Patrick Swayze Was Once in ‘Tears’ Over How He Treated Her Before ‘Dirty Dancing’

“Patrick is the only one who really anyone should try it with, because he was just such a good ballet dancer,” she told E! News. “He was so used to lifting women and so strong. By the end of the movie, I trusted him so much.”

In February 2023, Grey told PEOPLE that she always cries when watching Dirty Dancing now, admitting, “It gets me every time.”

“It feels like I’m living it when I’m watching it. And then I’m realizing that Patrick is gone,” she said.

As for the lift scene, which has become one of the most recognizable moments in the movie, choreographer Kenny Ortega told PEOPLE back in 2017 that Grey “worked very hard, and it showed.”

“Because she was an untrained dancer, the lifts were actually big moments for her personally,” he said. “She was aspiring to do them as an individual, not just as a character. She brought that to the role, and her reactions were so genuine and honest.”

But would the film have worked the same with anyone other than Swayze and Grey? Ortega, now 73, doesn’t think so, he told

“It would have been a different film,” he said at the time. “The chemistry would have been different. It wouldn’t have been what it was. I can’t imagine it with anyone but the two of them. It was magical.”

Years before Amaya Hermann was adopted, Mariska Hargitay went through a painful experience in which a mother who was to give her child to the actress changed her mind.

However, after an African-American mother entrusted the actress with her child, she became a doting mom to the sweet little girl. She now feels blessed to have her multiracial family.

Mariska Hargitay, 59, is an accomplished actress widely known for starring in the popular series “Law & Order.” Outside of her career, she is a doting wife to fellow actor Peter Hermann, 55, and a beloved mother of three, August, Andrew, and Amaya Josephine Hermann. Typically, the actress keeps her family life private and prefers her children to remain out of the limelight.

However, on July 1, a close friend of the actress took to Instagram to post two pictures of her hanging out with Mariska Hargitay and a few members of the star’s family at the Chiltern Firehouse restaurant. The first picture showed the friend and actress posing together and smiling. The second picture showed Mariska Hargitay, her husband, one of her sons, and her daughter Amaya, who just turned 12 years old this year, cuddled together.

The first time Hargitay became a mother, she was 42 years old. An age that falls within a medical category that denotes a heightened risk of experiencing pregnancy complications. She gave birth to her firstborn son, August, and a few years later, at her son’s request and as a result of both her and her spouse’s desire to have a big family, talks of another baby coming into the family began.

After deciding to take the adoption route, the couple began to explore their options with adoption agencies. They found what Hargitay described as a fantastic intuitive adoption lawyer who helped them embark on their journey.

The family grew one more time with the addition of baby Andrew, who was a surprise.

The adoption proceedings included a mandatory comprehensive five-hour house visit, and the overall process was not always easy on the couple, as they had to endure a lot of false starts. Hargitay disclosed:

“There were several cases that didn’t work out. A lot of different kinds of complications.”

However, a small glimmer of hope came sometime after patiently waiting and enduring the various rounds of visitations and letdowns. The hopeful parents caught word of a young pregnant woman who was set to give birth to a baby girl, which ideally suited Hargitay’s dream of having a daughter one day.

This case was approximately the third time they had attempted to adopt and extend their family, so naturally, the “Leaving Las Vegas” talent tried her best not to get her hopes up. Nevertheless, as soon as she met the mom-to-be, she couldn’t help but be excited, as she described the mother as bright, incredible, and intelligent.

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Following their visit, which went exceedingly well, and after about a month of ongoing communication, the mom, who was now in labor, rang Hargitay on the “Law & Order SVU” set and alerted her to come to the hospital immediately.

After the birth, the couple was handed what was supposed to be their bundle of joy, and they had the opportunity to bond with the newborn for two days, even going so far as to name the little girl. But then, Hargitay recalled:

“The birth mother changed her mind. It was nothing short of devastating.”

Tragically, the married couple was left with no ethical or morally-sound choice but to hand the newborn baby back to her biological mother. However, their luck, fortunately, changed for the better when their lawyer and social worker brought them some great news which made Hargitay cry tears of joy.

They had managed to locate a mother who was expecting and willing to give her baby up for adoption. The feeling that this would finally be the time when adoption would work out for the anticipating couple could not be denied, even by their administrative team, who described this new mom as amazing.

After an excellent initial phone conversation between the birth mother and the couple, the three met in person, and Hargitay recalled being blown away by how wonderful the woman was.

Though they were unbelievably excited about becoming parents for the second time, the couple couldn’t help but remain slightly worried and fearful over the same situation happening again.

However, the biological mom assured Hargitay that she had no doubt she would become her child’s mother. Though the woman was African-American, both parties involved had no qualms about the racial factor. Hargitay expressed:

“We were excited to have a multiracial family because that’s what the world is, and we want our family to reflect a realistic microcosm of the world.”

Baby Amaya, whose name translates to princess, warrior, and night rain, was welcomed into the Hargitay-Hermann family in April 2011. Soon after Amaya arrived, Hargitay divulged how ecstatic she and the whole family, including her then four-and-a-half-year-old son, August. She said:

“I’m deliriously happy. From the minute she was born, she was just surprisingly alert and so full of love… [August] is over the moon; he calls her his baby because he says the whole thing was his idea, [and] he always talks about how he’s going to protect her.”

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The family grew one more time with the addition of baby Andrew, who was a surprise. During a check-up call to see how Hargitay and her husband were fairing with their new baby, their lawyer informed them that there was another baby (this time, a boy) they stood a good chance of adopting if they were interested.

Without hesitation, the couple expressed emphatic interest in adopting him, and baby Andrew joined their family shortly after his older sister, Amaya. During a sit-down interview, Hargitay, while speaking of her and her husband’s decision to expand their family, stated:

“It’s funny, I always get so private about our kids, but I think that the easiest way or the easiest answer is we just wanted a bigger family, and we feel incredibly blessed.”

Despite their challenges while attempting to adopt, Mariska Hargitay and Hermann’s endurance proved successful. The couple feels blessed to live an amazing life with their beautiful multiracial family.