RNS Weekly Digest - 'I am a person of faith': How Christianity shaped Dolly Parton's music and spirit

'I am a person of faith': How Christianity shaped Dolly Parton's music and spirit

Dolly Parton, the country music icon who sang and spoke frequently of her Christian faith, died at age 80 on Tuesday (Aug. 25), her family announced. “Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” said Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and head of security, in a video released by the family. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl (her husband), her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.” The winner of 11 Grammy Awards, Parton was one of those unusual performers with broad, enduring appeal, crossing religions, races and political parties, over seven decades, and she spoke of how faith grounded her and her family.  “We all believe in God, and we’re very close,” she told KCRA, a Sacramento station. “We have a good communication with God, and I think that’s a positive attitude. That’s one of the reasons that we stay sane, and a lot of people in the business seem to be crazy.”  Religion & Politics 11 faith groups accuse Trump administration of violating court order while spying on churches Settler attacks threaten the West Bank’s final Christian village Is a school trip to a mosque preaching or teaching? California school district gets hit with lawsuit. Photos of the Week: Mawlid, sorrows of war Muslim faithful sing with prayer beads as they mark Prophet Muhammad's birthday, known as Mawlid, on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) In Opinion A Muslim educator and a rabbi: One ideology threatens us both Wouldn’t it be more Catholic of Ross Douthat not to pick a side? Why I hate the old Latin Mass: A confession And finally, California inmates celebrate a unique b’nai mitzvah. Inside California’s oldest prison, on the shores of the San Francisco Bay, the men sat in a row at the front of the chapel, wearing purple kippahs and identical light-blue shirts. One by one, they approached the podium and made short statements.  “I’m making a promise to never return to bloodshed or drugs,” one said. Another said, “I’m giving my life to Adonai (God) and the Jewish people.” A third added, “I want to make my ancestors proud.”   With musical accompaniment from a band called the Greater Good, the men proceeded to lead the Shabbat morning service in Hebrew, a language they were still trying to master. They donned prayer shawls and paraded a small Torah scroll around the chapel, slapping hands with members of the audience. Then each of the men chanted a few lines from the Torah to applause and shouts of “yasher koach!” (well done).  The group b’nai mitzvah ceremony at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center was the culmination of more than a year of study for the nine participants, who ranged in age from late-30s to mid-60s. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026 RNS, All rights reserved.

RNS Morning Report - The backlash to a Hindu nationalist leader's visit; A mosque class trip sparks lawsuit; Dolly Parton's faith

‘No Room for Bhagwat’: Interfaith group blasts Hindutva leader’s upcoming MSG speech   A coalition of faith leaders and religious advocates gathered at New York’s City Hall on Tuesday (Aug. 25) to denounce the upcoming visit of Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) based in India.   Bhagwat, chief of the RSS since 2009, is expected to address 5,000 Hindu Americans at Madison Square Garden on Saturday (Aug. 29).   “There is no room for Mohan Bhagwat and RSS hatred in our city,” said Brad Landers, Democratic nominee for Congress, adding that the organization “fomented violence and promoted hatred against Muslims, against Sikhs, against Dalits, against Christians.”   Meanwhile, some Hindu American organizations have accused Bhagwat’s critics of leveraging opposition to Hindu nationalism, also called Hindutva, to spew anti-Hindu hate.   RNS Reporter Fiona André brings you the story.         Top Stories ‘No Room for Bhagwat’: Interfaith group blasts Hindutva leader’s upcoming MSG speech (RNS) — 'There is no room for Mohan Bhagwat and RSS hatred in our city,' said Brad Lander, Democratic nominee for Congress, of Bhagwat’s speaking engagement at Madison Square Garden. Is a school trip to a mosque preaching or teaching? California school district gets hit with lawsuit. PALO ALTO, Calif. (RNS) — A group of parents of various faiths sued Palo Alto Unified School District over a 2025 school trip to a mosque, claiming students were gifted Qurans and female students were encouraged to wear hijabs. ‘I am a person of faith’: How Christianity shaped Dolly Parton’s music and spirit (RNS) — Country music icon Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, credited her faith for her career, which crossed religions, races and politics — and the philanthropy that followed. Photos of the Week: Mawlid, sorrows of war (RNS) — Each week RNS presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo selection includes Mawlid, the sorrows of war and more. Opinion Why I hate the old Latin Mass: A confession (RNS) — The old Latin Mass is like a zombie. We thought it was dead, but it keeps coming back. The church has a Cambridge problem (RNS) — Christians can criticize affirmative action and DEI hires all they want, but the continued employment of disqualified pastors in the pulpit is the church’s own form of an employment program. ICYMI Settler attacks threaten the West Bank’s final Christian village (RNS) — As settler violence escalates in Taybeh, a Catholic priest and a papal charity are working to give Palestinian Christians security, jobs and community support to remain in the Holy Land. Rev. Barbara Brown Zikmund, trailblazing religion scholar, dies at 87 (RNS) — The Rev. Barbara Brown Zikmund began her career in academia in the 1960s and went on to reach a series of milestones for women in theological institutions. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

Copyright © 2026 Religion News Service, All rights reserved.

You’re Invited: WEA Day 2026 – A Global Gathering of Prayer & Mission

For 180 years, the World Evangelical Alliance has brought Christians together across nations, cultures, and traditions in a shared commitment to unity, mission, discipleship, advocacy, and service. This September, we invite the global evangelical family to join us for two special gatherings as we give thanks for God’s faithfulness and look ahead to the work He continues to do through His Church.                                                   SEPTEMBER 23 — JOIN US IN THANKSGIVING A Global Online Celebration of 180 Years Join believers from around the world for a special online celebration marking 180 years of the World Evangelical Alliance. Together, we will give thanks for God’s faithfulness through generations and hear reflections from leaders across the WEA family. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Choose the time that works for you: 10:00 AM UTC 19:00 UTC Register Now SEPTEMBER 27 — WEA DAY Pray • Connect • Collaborate WEA Day is an opportunity for churches, national alliances, organizations, and believers everywhere to celebrate our shared unity in Christ. On September 27, we invite you to: PRAY for unity among the global evangelical family. CONNECT with others, strengthening relationships across churches and nations. COLLABORATE as we serve together and fulfill God's calling in every nation. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 Register Now 180 Years. One Global Family. One Shared Mission. Whether you join us online on September 23 or gather with your church and community on September 27, we hope you will be part of this milestone. Join us in thanksgiving. Join us in prayer. Strengthen relationships. Serve together. World Evangelical Alliance Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 650 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 163 national Evangelical Alliances in 9 regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy, relief, and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments, and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church. For more information, visit worldea.org WEA has been a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1980. WEA is audited annually by an independent public accounting firm. WEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the United States, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

© Copyright 2026 World Evangelical Alliance