RIP to the QUEEN

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I think that’s also why Tennessee holds such a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to go to school there, and living in Tennessee gave me a connection to that music, that culture, and those beautiful mountains that I’ll always carry with me. There was something so comforting about being surrounded by the places and sounds that felt so familiar, even when I was growing and figuring out who I was. And Dolly has always represented so much of what I love about that part of the world — kindness, strength, humility, hard work, and staying true to yourself. She has this incredible way of making people feel like they belong. When I hear her music, I don’t just hear songs. I hear memories. I hear pieces of my life. I think about Tennessee, school, the people I met, the person I was then, and the person I’ve become since. Some music passes through your life. Some music becomes a part of you. Dolly’s music will always be a part of me. And maybe that’s the magic of a truly great songwriter — they somehow find the words for feelings you didn’t know how to say yourself. Thank you, Dolly, for giving me so many of those words.