When I learned of Dolly Parton’s death a few days ago, my world stopped, literally. I was in the middle of my workplace’s training week when my coworkers and I caught word of the American icon’s death, and our Powerpoint was effectively paused for 10 minutes while we all told everyone we knew. I even called my mother right then and there. Dolly was a big part of my childhood, thanks to my mom, who grew up listening to her music. When I was little, my favorite episodes of Hannah Montana were the ones featuring Dolly, and to this day, I still sing Jolene at the top of my lungs every time I hear it. I even went to her theme park, Dollywood, as a kid (and I fully plan on going back one day). Safe to say, I’m a Dolly Parton fan to my core, but she wasn’t all rhinestones and coats of many colors.
Dolly Parton was also a major philanthropist and activist during her lifetime. Dolly grew up a poor child in rural Tennessee, and after rising to fame, she made it her mission to help those in her community and others. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library seeks to provide children up to 5 years old with free books to help them read, she regularly spoke out in favor of LGBTQIA+ rights, and the only reason Dolly never became a billionaire is because she donated so much money to charities around the world. And if you thought that that was the extent of Parton’s work, you’d still be wrong. Along with the music, the free books, and the donations, Dolly was also a major player in the food world, and I’m not just talking about her “cuppa cuppa cuppa cake” from Steel Magnolias.
In 2022, Dolly Parton and Duncan Hines collaborated on a series of cake mixes and frostings, a collection that now has 16 different box mixes. And it’s not just cakes anymore, either. You can buy sugar cookie mixes, brownies, and even a cornbread box mix that I’m dying to try. These are easy to find in major stores, such as Target and Walmart. And if you can’t find them in your grocery store, you can order them on Amazon or the Duncan Hines website. But Duncan Hines isn’t the only way you can dine like Dolly. She also released her own brand, Baking with Dolly, that has a great lineup as well. These items include frozen desserts (like pies and custards), pancake mix and maple syrup, and even frozen meals, such as mac n’ cheese and chicken and dumplings. These are also commonly found in Target and Walmart, and I’ll definitely be looking for them the next time I’m out.
And if frozen meals and box mixes aren’t your thing, and you’re looking for more homemade food, Dolly and her sister Rachel released a cookbook in 2024. Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals features over 80 recipes from the beloved icon, as well as photographs, tips, and family memories. I’ve been planning on purchasing this cookbook since it was released, and with Dolly’s passing, it might just be time to open my wallet and get to cookin’. Dolly may be resting in peace, but that doesn’t mean we have to. So come with me and put on some Dolly, because we’re about to get cooking, good looking.