CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Beloved country music legend Dolly Parton died Tuesday, Aug. 25. She was 80 years old when her family says she passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer.
Her legacy is one felt across the nation and beyond.
"Dolly Parton really kind of is one of one," said Matt Beringer, the chief operating officer with the Pabst Theater Group.
With a career spanning six decades, Dolly Parton took the crown as queen of country music.
While writing thousands of songs and winning 11 Grammys, the superstar made several stops in Milwaukee, taking the stage at Summerfest and the Riverside Theater.
"She’s definitely one of the greats to perform here," said Beringer. "I think she’s one of the greats of all time, and with her passing, I think people are going to sort of realize that she’s sort of in that Elvis, Beatles echelon of artists."
Her final performance in Milwaukee was at the Riverside Theater back in 2008, where a sign now thanks her for the light she brought to the city.
"It feels really sad," said Paige Knight, a local Dolly Parton fan. "It feels like -- I’ve said it a few times, but she put so much love into the world, and I feel like we’re losing a little bit of that. So, I’m going to try and live in her memory today and do maybe a small act of kindness just in Dolly‘s memory."
Dolly's impact goes beyond the music. Her Imagination Library program delivers millions of books, once a month, to kids across the nation, including thousands of children in Wisconsin. It's something that's made all the difference in Greenfield alone.
"What we do get to hear from is the parents and how incredibly grateful parents are that they get a book mailed directly to their house," said Lisa Elliott, the superintendent of Greenfield School District. "It's an age-appropriate book and it's something they enjoy doing together with their family."
Parton leaves behind a legacy that will impact millions of people for years to come.
