Dolly Parton Quietly Paid College Tuition for Thousands — One Thank-You Touched the World In 1986, Dolly Parton quietly started the Dollywood Foundation in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee. The community was struggling. High school dropout rates were high. College felt impossible for many families. Dolly responded by creating programs that rewarded students for staying in school — and later launched the Imagination Library, mailing free books every month to children from birth to age five.

Dolly Parton gives a shoutout to her hometown of Sevierville, TN on a 1974 episode of Hee Haw! #dollywood #dollyparton #heehaw #exploretennessee | Explore Tennessee