SOUTHFIELD ~ On Sunday, Reverend Chris Yaw at St. David’s Episcopal Church will honor the legacy of country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away earlier this week, with a sermon.
“When your producer called me, she said, ‘Are you going to preach on Dolly on Sunday?’ I said, ‘Yes, actually I am,’ because on Sunday we get a reading from Romans, and it tells Christians to let love be genuine, to show honor, practice generosity, and hospitality, care for the overlooked, and overcome evil with good,” Yaw said on ‘JR Afternoon. “And I think Dolly Parton’s life gives us a remarkably vivid picture of those words.”
PODCAST:
Aug. 28, 2026 ~ Reverend Chris Yaw at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield joins Marie Osborne to honor Dolly Parton’s legacy and discuss how we can look for spiritual messages in the most unlikely places.
(CONTINUED) Parton died Tuesday at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville following what her representatives described as a brief battle with cancer. She was 80 years old.
Her team said she died surrounded by loved ones, though the specific type of cancer was not disclosed. News of Parton’s death follows months of health concerns that increasingly affected her public schedule. Earlier this month, she appeared by video instead of attending a Dollywood event in person, telling fans she was dealing with dizziness and dehydration.
Parton’s death marks the loss of one of country music’s most influential voices. Beyond her commercial success, she leaves behind a legacy of songwriting, philanthropy, and cultural impact that reached far beyond the stage.
As news of her death spread Tuesday, tributes poured in from fellow artists, public figures, and fans around the world, Including Talyor Swift, Jack White, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul McCartney, Dionne Warwick, Jane Fonda, and Reba McEntire. A small, private service for immediate family members will be held in accordance with Parton’s wishes. In lieu of flowers, her family asked that donations be made to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, while also encouraging supporters to share messages online.
