Dolly Parton says coronavirus 'is a lesson from God', encourages fans to keep faith
For all of her followers on Instagram who were struggling to deal with the new normal amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country as well as the rest of the world, Dolly Parton had an uplifting message to share.
The country music legend shared a video that she recorded from her home. Standing in front of a small flight of stairs, she broke out into a song, telling her fans that she thought COVID-19 was a lesson from God.
"Well hello! It's Dolly. Climbing the stairway to heaven 'cause this virus has scared the H-E-L-L out of us," Parton sang.
She went onto explain: "I'm not making light out of the situation. Well, maybe I am because it's the light, I believe, that's going to dissolve the situation. I think God is in this, I really do think he's trying to hold us up to the light so we can see ourselves and see each other through the eyes of love, and I hope we learn that lesson. I think that when this passes we're all gonna be better people.
While advising her followers she added that despite the negativity surrounding the pandemic, she has managed to maintain a "positive" attitude. "So just keep the faith, don't be too scared. It's going to be alright. God loves us," she said.
The 'Jolene' songstress was praised by her admirers for getting their spirits up. One of them called her a "national treasure" while another said, "I swear the pope needs to make her a saint already."
The post came days after she posted a tearful tribute to her fellow country star, Kenny Rogers, who died of natural causes last week at the age of 81.
"Well, I couldn't believe it this morning when I got up, turned on the TV checking to see what the coronavirus was doing, and they told me that my friend and singing partner Kenny Rogers had passed away," Parton said in a video filmed inside her home. And I know that we all know Kenny is in a better place than we are today but I'm for sure he's going to be talking to God sometime today, if ain't already, and he's going to be asking him to spread some light on this darkness going on here. But I loved Kenny with all my heart. My heart's broken. A big ol' chunk of it has gone with him today and I think that I can speak for all his family, his friends and fans, when I say that I will always love him," she said while getting emotional.
She held up a picture she had taken with both of them together. "I just happened to have this picture when I woke up this morning of us," Parton said as she broke into tears. "I walked out and thought, 'Well, maybe I'll hold that up for everybody,' so I know you're sad as I am but God bless you Kenny. Fly high, straight into the arms of God. And to the rest of you, keep the faith."