When news of Dolly Parton’s death spread Tuesday afternoon, there was only one fitting way to pay tribute. As one viral post put it: “Girls, we gotta put on our finest push-up bra for our good sister Dolly Parton!”
Parton, who died Tuesday aged 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, leaves behind a colossal legacy; she was an inimitable talent who shaped music culture and countless lives through her philanthropic efforts. But part of that legacy was also her power to inspire women to be unapologetically glam through her unforgettable style: her signature peroxide wigs, rhinestone jumpsuits, bulletproof push-up bras, shoulder pads, red nails and six-inch stiletto heels. Across her seven-decade career, Parton challenged prevailing stereotypes about how women should present themselves. She subverted the blonde bimbo caricature, and did it all with an all-knowing wink.
