Whenever someone legendary dies, particularly in an area I’m passionate about, I feel compelled to use this as a platform to pay my respects.

Dolly Parton died.

Don’t worry, I am not going to wax lyrical on her life, legacy, or what she means to me.

I’m going to share one tidbit about great musicians, like her, that I find fascinating:

They share.

It’s a powerful lesson, and one we all (hopefully) learn. How to share and find joy in giving.

Dolly did it with Whitney Houston. “I Will Always Love You” is a raw farewell masterpiece that had already hit number 1. Why give it to, or allow anyone else to sing it? When you hear Whitney sing it, you understand why Dolly said she “had to pull over” when she first heard it.

Barry Gibb did it with Dolly & Kenny Rogers. “Islands in the Stream” is….a Bee Gee’s song. But the Bee Gee’s had fallen out of style and Barry remains of the best songwriters of all time. So he wrote it, Kenny Rogers was fed up with it, and Dolly saved it.

The other example I feel compelled to mention is “Hurt”. I went down the rabbit hole on Trent Reznor after re-watching Pixar’s “Soul” recently (Trent did the music). It’s insane to think that the man behind Nine Inch Nails wrote a song that is forever associated with Johnny Cash. But, as in the previous examples, although Trent was initially protective of his baby, he came to understand and appreciate how much Cash could do with it.

The art of creativity is often most beautifully expressed through collaboration, humility, and a stroke of genius.

It simultaneously keeps us together while pushing us forward.

With that said, here are a few more examples…

RP WEEKLY!!!!!!