Dolly Parton Dead? You Decide

Fox News has reported that singer/songwriter Dolly Parton has died at the age of 60 of congestive heart failure. The unconfirmed rumor became gossip fodder as news agencies, celebrity gossips, and information peddlers telephoned, e-mailed, and texted their sources to find out if the story had any basis in reality.

Apparently, this is what Fox News means by its motto: "We report. You decide."

And it just might have been true.

But the report of Dolly Parton being dead is not the first rumor of a celebrity's death that has hit the internet and had it buzzing for days. Several weeks ago, the internet was set on fire by the news of Bernie Mac dying. The news of Bernie Mac's death at the age of 50 were tragic, but the sad fact is that someone (and many other someones) produced a story that Bernie Mac had died the week before he actually passed away. The comedian's publicist, Danica Smith, had to quiet the rumors by reassuring the public that Bernie Mac had simply been hospitalized. Sadly, Bernie Mac never left the hospital and died on August 9.

Just a few days later, the internet burned with the news that the daughter of Lil Wayne had died in a car accident. This rumor was finally contained and negated by the young girl's mother. Lil Wayne is a multi-platinum selling rap artist whose music has become a pop culture phenomenon, something this cruel rumor apparently played upon.

Back in March 2006, a wildly inaccurate press release announced that comedic actor Will Ferrell had died in a paragliding accident. The press release, an obvious hoax, got plenty of internet time and traffic. Will Ferrell was not 36 years old at the time (as was attested to in the false press release); he was 38. He was not a graduate of the University of California, and he was not dead. Nor does Will Ferrell paraglide.

Probably the most famous modern untrue rumor concerning the death of a celebrity has been the persistent rumor that Beatles' bassist/songwriter/singer Paul McCartney had died. Supposedly occurring in the late 60's, rumors apparently began with the mistaken idea that John Lennon, McCartney's songwriting partner, whispered, "I buried Pal," at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever." Strawberry Fields, for those unfamiliar with Beatles lore, is the name of a graveyard. Still, four decades later, Sir Paul is still alive and well, producing songs and albums.

Mark Twain once wrote, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!" It was in response, of course, to wild suppositions that the great author had actually died. Paul McCartney would paraphrase Twain in a quote in Life magazine in 1969 in an attempt to dispel the rumors.

And those few are not anywhere near the end of a long list of misreported deaths over the years. Actor Abe Vigoda, famous for his television role of "Fish" on "Barney Miller," has also survived decades of his being dead. Actor Scott Baio, famous for his role as "Chachi" on "Happy Days," survived his own death on the same day comedian actor Chris Farley sadly did pass away. And singer Jimmy Buffett is still singing about "Margarittaville," even though he's been dead for years.

Today, with the benefit of technology and fast-as-light communications, those exaggerated rumors have a ridiculous amount of irresponsibility about them. Someone hears something somewhere about another someone's death and it is e-mailed or texted to someone else and, before long, the overhead rumor becomes internet dialogue and fact. Meanwhile, the not deceased is still drawing an unexaggerated breath somewhere, more often as not unaware of the internet firestorm transpiring on their behalf.

The report of Dolly Parton being dead just might have been true. But it was not.

According to her publicist, Pete Owens, the 62-year-old singer is still very much alive and will not issue a statement regarding the false rumors. It is not known for certain, but it is believed that the rumors began when Dolly Parton's death was announced at a Tennessee high school football game.

Dolly Parton is probably best known for multi-platinum selling song, "I Will Always Love You," which she took to the top of the country charts and Whitney Houston took to the top of the pop charts as part of "The Bodyguard" soundtrack. Dolly Parton also runs the successful Dollywood amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and is known for her great sense of humor.

With regard to the story of her death on Fox News, Dolly Parton more than likely simply considered the source.