Love Letter

March 2026. London, England.

The house lights dim. The atmosphere swells. A sold out Royal Albert Hall readies for the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music. The finest military ensemble in the world, the Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, comes to life.

For me at least, in what is a pulsating and stirring two hour performance, one particular offering stands out. Fronted by a brilliant alto sax player, the band produces a touching, heartfelt rendition of the iconic “I Will Always Love You.” In so doing, just five months before her untimely death at the age of 80, the Marines pay fitting tribute to the song’s original composer.

She is American singer and songwriting legend Dolly Parton.

Born in 1946 in rural Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children in a dirt poor farming family, Parton displays remarkable musical talent at a young age. An extraordinary career goes on to span seven decades.

Soon labelled the “Queen of Country,” global recognition, awards, and adoration quickly follow. These include 11 Grammys, 25 #1 singles, 44 Top 10 albums. She composes over 3,000 songs, sells 100 million records worldwide. Gains multiple Hall of Fame inductions.

Moreover, whether acting in films, on stage, or on television, she is equally successful. Captures three Emmy Awards, six Golden Globes, a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and an honorary Oscar.

In addition, various clever and imaginative business ventures flourish, while her philanthropy supports crucial humanitarian projects connected to education, literacy, disaster relief, and healthcare.

Parton’s actual passing produces its own flood of tributes. Family, friends, and fans from all over the world, via books, newspapers, podcasts, the internet, and social media, reflect on a life well lived. A life from humble beginnings to global superstardom.

Almost all note her extreme generosity to many less fortunate. Indeed, as the economic gap widens dramatically between rich and poor, she would use millions of dollars of her own money to make life easier for others.

More importantly, her endless positivity in an increasingly divided world, her self deprecating humour, and her courage allied neatly with kindness, grace, and compassion.

It is some legacy, one that lives on radiating much needed resilience and healing powers. Long may this last.

Alas, so much in the world at this moment is a wretched mess. Lurching from crisis to crisis. Dangerously unstable.

Madmen, supported by any number of shameless, malleable lackeys, sycophants, and enablers, sow division and trauma on a grand scale. Lust for power, money, and control turns governments into virtual crime syndicates.

Monstrous lies, wilful destruction, lawlessness, overt racism, narcissism, amorality, avarice, and cruelty are just other slices of a toxic and poisonous pie. While forever wars, ICE, AI gambles, climate upheaval, and expanding nuclear threats cast dark shadows.

Still, let us bravely face but not bemoan the wreckage. As I am sure Dolly Parton would wish, aim for a better future. Take her myriad outstanding qualities, bottle them together, pour oil on troubled waters. Take the necessary small steps, make the important small acts of kindness and selflessness. Day after day, combine to make what the world should be.

I ponder all of the above, and more, as my mind continually returns to the recent spring concert.

To music and the arts, like sport one of the few things in life that has the power to provide joy and inspiration, to unite people, and to move them as a collective.

To a Marines band playing a particularly wonderful, haunting even, tribute. To giving honour when honour is due.

To Dolly Parton, a beacon of hope, love, and bravery. To a champion.

And to her song, a hymn really, titled appropriately “I Will Always Love You.” For in its rawest form, even without the lyrics, what is it but a love letter?

A love letter, coming from the heart, which, en masse, has the power to transcend

the world’s current ills.

As noted during the recent Paris Olympics closing ceremony, “humanity is beautiful when it comes together.”

Editor’s notes:

The alto sax soloist featured in the Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines is Lance Corporal Cally Jones. Listen on You Tube at youtube.com/watch?v=feuFm9fmhj8

The Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines can be seen at the annual Horse Guards Parade, held each June near Whitehall in central London. Also may be heard on You Tube.