September always feels a bit like a month in between. Summer has not quite yet gone, but fall is on the horizon! We find ourselves looking back at where we have been while also turning toward what comes next. This September, that feels especially meaningful.

As a native Nashvillian and lifelong Tennessean, I could not welcome you to this issue without acknowledging the passing of someone whose presence has been woven into the fabric of our state for as long as I can remember, Dolly Parton.

For those of us in Tennessee, Dolly always felt especially close to home. She was one of our own – a girl from the Smoky Mountains whose voice, humor, generosity and unmistakable spirit became part of the identity of our state. Yet her reach extended far beyond Tennessee.

Dolly became a true national treasure, beloved across generations and far beyond the world of country music. The tributes that have poured in from around the country and across the globe reflect just how universally she was admired, not only as an entertainer and songwriter, but as a philanthropist, cultural icon and woman who never seemed to lose the warmth and authenticity of where she came from.

There was something uniquely Dolly about belonging so completely to Tennessee while also belonging, in a way, to everyone. The world knew her, but Tennessee knew where the story began. Though I never had the opportunity to meet Dolly in person, I felt connected to her in the way so many Tennesseans do – through the places, music and moments she inspired. I still smile thinking of the first time I slipped on rhinestone boots to see the musical of her life here in Nashville and later visited White Limozeen, a playful tribute to the glamour and spirit she shared with the world.  For as long as I can remember, Dolly has simply been there – part of Tennessee’s identity, part of our culture, and part of so many of our lives. It just doesn’t seem real that she’s gone, though certainly not in spirit and what she has left behind.

And while there is sadness in saying goodbye, there is also something beautiful about knowing that her stories, music, generosity, humor – and even her food traditions – will continue to be shared.

So this month, Unconditionally Her will do a little of that sharing. Sandy brings us several recipes inspired by Dolly and her family traditions, reminding us that food, much like music, can carry memories from one generation to the next.

That idea of the stories we carry with us runs through this issue.

For our September Book Club, Becky takes us aboard The Women on Platform Two, a story of friendship, chance encounters and journeys that change us. Allison asks, “Who’s Coming with You?”, reminding us that who shares the journey can matter as much as the destination, while Lori takes us farther from home in “What I Didn’t Expect from South America.”

Some journeys are more inward. Pam writes about grief and later joins Karen for a conversation about “The Empty Space of Grief.” Kiya offers a touching perspective on goodbyes in “What My Son Understood About Goodbyes Before I Did.” These may not be easy subjects, but sometimes hearing another person put words to what we are feeling helps us feel a little less alone.

We are also asking questions worth thinking about. Justin invites us to consider “What’s Your Philo?” and what truly grounds us. Karen explores whether concierge medicine is worth the price of something most of us wish we had more of – time. And Kiya looks at what happens when we begin ranking children in sports before they are even ten years old.

In my own A Time to Bloom column, I turn to service and the idea that giving back can be a wellness practice in itself. It feels especially fitting this month as I think about a Tennessee woman whose legacy reached far beyond the stage and showed us that success and generosity do not have to be separate stories.

And there is still plenty of fun along the way. Becky serves up a Hot Caprese Salad, Cooking with Grammy returns with Oreo Cheesecakes, and you will find more food, fashion, conversations and surprises throughout the issue.

Perhaps that is what I love most about September. It holds a little of everything life holds: laughter and loss, food and friendship, questions and discoveries, journeys away from home and reasons to appreciate where we came from.

As we turn the page into a new season, may we remember the people who helped shape our stories and think about the stories we are still writing.

Thank you, Dolly. You left us with music, memories and a legacy of generosity, and this month, we are honored to carry a little of that spirit into the pages of Unconditionally Her – sharing stories that connect us, inspire us, and remind us of the stories we are still writing.

Be Encouraged, Be Empowered, Be Inspired – Be Unconditionally YOU!

“Every day I wake up with new dreams.” — Dolly Parton