Dolly Parton — Sara Denny

The world is a little darker and more sad lately.

I have a Dolly Parton story. I don’t have many celebrity stories but the fact that I have a Dolly one is so special to me.

I’m not sure the year this was taken (the early to mid 90s) but my family was vacationing near Dollywood and we happened to be there when there was a parade happening outside of the park (I’ve never been to Dollywood proper) and we lined up along this road to look at the floats and see some of the different celebrities that were in the parade as well.

Miss Dolly Parton was in this parade, she was waving to people from atop her Jukebox throne and every 10 feet they were stopping and she was chitchatting to the people lined up along the road to see her.

I was looking at her and she looked down at me and we locked eyes and she goes, ”Hey Sugar! Where you from?” and I shout “Michigan!” and Dolly raises her hand up like this great state and she asks, “Where at?” and I point on my own hand where my town is located on the mitten and I smile and she smiles and points at her own hand in the same place and says, “Thank you for comin’!”

and I am 40 years old right now and I STILL remember how special that felt to me.

Rest in Peace, Dolly.