Dolly Parton has selected "If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven)," a classic gospel song, for her funeral. This choice reflects not only her personal connection to the hymn but also her significant role as a unifying figure in an increasingly polarized America.
The composer of the hymn, Albert Brumley, born in Oklahoma, became a renowned songwriter of "white gospel music." His compositions, including "I'll Meet You in the Morning" and "Rank Strangers," found broad appeal. Notably, his hymn "I'll Fly Away" became a staple in black gospel music, recorded by artists like the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, and even as a duet by Aretha Franklin and Jesse Jackson. The lyrics of "I'll Fly Away," written in 1929, resonated as a civil rights anthem, demonstrating the unifying potential of music.
"If We Never Meet Again," with its lyrics "if we never meet again, this side of heaven, I’ll meet you on that beautiful shore," likely held personal significance for Parton, perhaps reminding her of her late husband and parents. The song's journey, from its composition by a white artist to its embrace by black gospel groups and its international renditions, such as by a group blending American gospel with the indigenous music of Zimbabwe, mirrors Parton's own ability to transcend cultural divisions.
Parton herself performed "I'll Fly Away" in concert, often eliciting enthusiastic responses. Her music has been embraced across diverse American audiences. Her hit "I Will Always Love You" was famously covered by Whitney Houston, a prominent figure in black gospel music, with Parton herself presenting Houston with her Grammy award for the rendition.
The selection of "If We Never Meet Again" follows a tradition of iconic Americans choosing music with similar unifying qualities for their memorials. Martin Luther King Jr. selected Thomas Dorsey's "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," a spiritual that transcended race through recordings by Mahalia Jackson and Elvis Presley. At Aretha Franklin's funeral, Gladys Knight sang Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," a song inspired by a black gospel quartet's rendition of "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep."
Parton's choice is seen as another example of how the cross-pollination of artistic styles from diverse peoples contributes to the richness of American music, a phenomenon also exemplified by Ray Charles, who blended black gospel with pop and adapted country music for his own sound. Charles's gospel-tinged rendition of "America the Beautiful" is considered definitive by many.
The contemporary American landscape is often characterized by cultural divisions and a lack of shared experiences. The widespread admiration for Dolly Parton suggests a continued capacity for unity when individuals actively strive to bring people together, a quality Parton herself has consistently embodied through her music and public persona. As an author and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Howard Husock noted, Parton's efforts to unite people have been successful.