Tue
Feb 17 2009
12:05 pm
Doctor Parton?
By: MDB

UTK is granting an honorary doctorate to Dolly Parton.

Okay, I love Dolly's music, especially her mountain roots work. (Little Sparrow is one of my favorite albums.)

I think her contributions to East Tennessee through Dollywood and philanthropy are wonderful.

However... UTK has only presented one other honorary doctorate, and that was to Howard Baker. (I'm amazed that they didn't give one to Alex Haley when he was living in Anderson County.)

This just strikes me as one of the things that makes honorary degrees.... as cheap as Dolly dresses. :-) ("It costs a lot to look this cheap!")

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

I'm just surprised that it's

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2009/02/17 - 4:25pm.

I'm just surprised that it's only the second one ever. But I don't begrudge Dolly. She's done a lot for education in Tennessee. (Not to mention tourism.)

MDB's picture

That's my point

Submitted by MDB on Tue, 2009/02/17 - 5:05pm.

You hit at my point.

I don't object, per se, to Dolly getting an honorary degree -- I kinda sorta object to her getting the second one ever awarded.

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

scottfrith's picture

As a graduate of UT, I

Submitted by scottfrith on Tue, 2009/02/17 - 4:47pm.

As a graduate of UT, I believe it's well-deserved, appropriate, and pretty darn cool. I don't know of many Tennesseans that have done more to promote our region. I only wish I were a member of this year's graduating class so that I could hear her speak!

Mike Cohen's picture

Dolly

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Wed, 2009/02/18 - 6:30am.

Even putting aside all she has done for tourism, how completely she helps the state and region almost whenever asked...for Imagination Library alone (which I believe is now in all 95 TN counties) she is deserving. Baker and Parton are truly two pretty unique people who have had a lot of impact. Good for UT for being limited in giving them.

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