08/27/2026
A true icon who touched lives everywhere, including right here on the Emerald Coast. 🕊️✨
As we remember Dolly Parton following her passing, this throwback photo from the Bay County Historical Society is such a special reminder of her deep roots and lasting legacy in our region. From her early days performing at Jungle Land on Panama City Beach in the 1970s to her incredible philanthropic work like the Imagination Library, Dolly brought so much joy, generosity, and light to our community and the world.
Rest in peace, Dolly. You will always be loved. ❤️🎶
This photo of Dolly Parton was taken at Jungle Land on Panama City Beach around 1970 when she was a costar on the Porter Wagoner Show. She would go on to become a major influence in popular music. She also became a very successful business woman with impact nationally and locally. Dolly Parton gained international acclaim for her generosity. Imagination Library — Parton’s signature program, founded in 1995, mailed millions of free books to children worldwide. The Library of Congress called her a “titan of children’s literacy.” At the time of her death,, Dolly Parton was celebrated not only as a cultural icon but as one of America’s most influential philanthropists — a figure whose generosity reshaped literacy, disaster relief, and public health across the South.