I’ve spent a great deal of time this week thinking about Dolly Parton. I should have written here about her earlier this week, but didn’t.

I thought I had waited too long. I guess not. The Sunday New York Times has at least two pieces about her today. More on that in a minute. So I guess I can devote a blog to her.

I wrote on my Fox 13 Facebook page about remembering Dolly Parton from my childhood. I remember my dad closing his pharmacy in Paris, Texas, early every Saturday to watch Dolly Parton on the Porter Wagoner Show. (Some perspective here. Dad never closed his store early. Not even on Christmas Eve.)

I can see her now selling Breeze Detergent pulling out a towel in the box saying, “Lookie here Porter.”

I remember being at the truck stop in Paris, Texas, and playing “Jolene” or “Two Doors Down” on the juke box. Somehow, I’m craving chicken fried steak and gravy right now.

Flash to 2003. I was doing a satellite interview with Dolly about her opening “Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede” in Orlando. I asked her if she was worried about going up against Disney. She said, and I will never forget this, “I ain’t skeert.” Hahaha!

My friend Charlie Belcher has had more encounters with Dolly than that. In person. I’m jealous. He says she was lovely and always remembered him. That makes me feel really good. Because with celebrities, you never really know.

Now, to today’s New York Times. Dolly is front and center in the Sunday Styles section. Her picture is above and below the fold. It reads “Dolly Parton: Bedazzled, Bewigged and Bodacious.“

Inside, Dolly with various celebrities from Johnny Carson and Carol Burnett to Jay Leno and Kermit and Miss Piggy. (I have it on good authority that Dolly and Miss Piggy were best of friends.)

Among the famous quotes that she made while reading the Top Ten List on Dolly’s pet peeves on the David Letterman Show: “Accountants who don’t understand how much it costs to make me look this cheap.”

Another piece in the Times is written by Tressie McMillan Cottom. It’s called “Dolly Parton taught me how to take up space.” She writes that to understand Dolly, you have to read her as a writer.

Dolly did write her own story. She defined herself her way. Think about all those songs. Earlier in the week, we did a poll of viewers favorite Dolly Parton songs. “Jolene.” “I will always love you.” Coat of Many Colors.” “9 to 5.” Those were just a few of the choices. The last time I checked, “Islands in the Stream” was ahead. (Noteworthy. Dolly didn’t write it. The Bee Gees did.)

At dinner last night, a singer sang, “I will always love you.” The Whitney Houston version. When she started, I thought this might not be a good idea. Too soon. By the time she was done, we were all singing along. Singing toward heaven and Dolly Parton.

American Songwriter published a piece this week that said the music world hasn’t experienced a loss of this magnitude in many years. It also said her death is “up there with the deaths of Elvis or Michael Jackson.“

I believe it. This is a loss that transcends generations. From Ray Rhodes rushing home from his pharmacy in Paris, Texas, to a generation who grew up watching Aunt Dolly on “Hannah Montana.”

I think my dad was in line to welcome Dolly to heaven. I know he was.

Dolly, we will always love you.