The queen is dead, long live the queen!

Dolly Parton—perhaps the most universally beloved American—died at 80 yesterday. She went peacefully, surrounded by family.

Known as a formidable singer-songwriter and a tentpole in country/pop music, Parton was an icon to several seemingly opposed cadres. She was claimed and adored by the queer community, the Christians, the Democratic Socialists of America, the unruly femmes, and the gleefully tacky, among other groups.

Why will we always love her? Because Dolly rose out of poverty in Tennessee to become a consistently chart-topping millionaire, and with her riches she did things like speak up for the trans community, fund research for the early COVID vaccine, and give thousands of free books to children.

On FKA Twitter, several have speculated that she did more for the country than many American presidents. The worst of whom has nonetheless laid flowers, because she was that likable.

Her Imagination Library, which recently stretched out of Tennessee to fund book programs in other states and countries, has issued a request for donations at this time.

The library, created in 1995 in honor of Parton’s illiterate father, sends free books to preschool-age children every month. 3.2 million kids currently benefit from the program. Though it has come under threat in Missouri.

Because there has been no parade announcement (yet!), supporting free books for young readers seems like a pretty cool way to perpetuate the woman who brought us the best love song.

And the best workplace critique.

And many of the best quips, full stop.

So send a little something to the library today, if you can. And say a little thank you to Dolly. Who we’ll be thinking of, every step of the way.