Dolly Parton died today, and it's no surprise how much it's hit me. I never met her. I have no business grieving like this. But some people shape you from a distance, and you don't notice how much until they're gone.
She was funny, generous, smart, kind, and completely unbothered by anyone who mistook the wig and the nails for the whole story. That combination taught me more about how to build a life and a career than most of the advice I've paid for.