Dolly Parton remembered for decades of support to U.S. troops

Dolly Parton’s death at age 80 elicited heartfelt acknowledgments from the U.S. armed forces, underscoring a relationship that spanned decades. In 1991 she toured Fort Hood, Texas, meeting soldiers returning from the Persian Gulf and famously shouting a mock warning at Saddam Hussein, an episode recorded by one outlet. Ten years later she unveiled a KC-135 Stratotanker painted with her likeness at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, the plane nicknamed “Miss Dolly.”

Her catalog includes songs such as “Daddy Won’t Be Home Anymore” and “Welcome Home,” which speak to the hardships of military families, and she performed alongside former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Parton also took part in a virtual USO program in 2022 and, through her Imagination Library, secured a $15,000 grant with the Government Employees Health Association to provide free books to children at Naval Base Kitsap, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Station Everett.

Military social-media accounts posted images of her in camouflage and saluting, while the Boot Campaign expressed grief for her contributions. Her family asked that donations be directed to the Imagination Library rather than flowers.