We will always love you, Dolly

Flags are at half-mast across the United States following the death of Dolly Parton at the age of 80.

Born in poverty in a log cabin in rural Tennessee, she went on to sell more than 100 million records and became one of the most influential figures in country music.

Dolly Parton was also a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist and gave away millions to fund child literacy, conservation and healthcare.

In our conversations, we bring together female country musicians – including Rhonda Vincent and Rissi Palmer - to share their memories of Dolly Parton and discuss her achievements.

“She was exemplary of the scripture ‘judge the tree by the fruit’ – and all you had to do was look at the fruit she produced in her life,” says Rissi Palmer. “She was a philanthropist that helped every community, she touched every community, she didn’t just limit it to one.”

We also bring together people who worked with Dolly Parton to share their stories, including where she kept her make-up.

Presenter: Pria Rai
BBC producers: Angela Sheeran and Iqra Farooq
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team.

(Photo: Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton. Copyright: Rhonda Vincent)