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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham joined the countless fans, entertainers and public figures honoring country music legend Dolly Parton. Parton died Tuesday at 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in a video shared through Parton’s official social media accounts.
Parton’s representatives said she died surrounded by loved ones following a brief battle with cancer, according to People. Cunningham responded to the heartbreaking news by sharing a touching message from Country Now on her Instagram story.
“Country music and the entire world will never be the same without Dolly,” the message read. “So the only way forward is to be more like Dolly. Be kind to your neighbor. Do good in the world. Help others. Spread a little more love. Be like Dolly.”
It was a simple tribute that captured why Parton’s influence stretched far beyond the songs she recorded during her legendary career.
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Cunningham also shared one of Parton’s most memorable pieces of advice in a separate Instagram story.
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life,” the quote read, according to AOL.
Cunningham’s appreciation for country music has been well documented. She previously revealed on her “Show Me Something” podcast that she might be involved in a project with a country artist. The Fever star also recently went viral after climbing onto a bar and singing Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
Parton, nicknamed the Queen of Country, won 11 Grammy Awards and wrote thousands of songs during a career spanning more than six decades. Her biggest hits included “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her legacy also extended into acting, business and philanthropy. Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to provide free books to young children. The program has distributed hundreds of millions of books worldwide. She also donated $1 million toward research that helped support the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Cunningham’s tribute came while the Fever enjoyed a five-day break following a demanding five-game road trip. Indiana went 3-2 during the stretch and improved to 25-14. The Fever already have secured a postseason berth but remain in the race for a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the opening round. Indiana will return to action Friday against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Basketball soon will take Cunningham’s attention again. For one day, however, she used her platform to encourage others to follow the example Parton set throughout her life.
Be kind. Help people. Spread love.
Be more like Dolly.
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