Looking Back at Hallmark’s ‘Christmas at Dollywood’: Danica McKellar Shares Tearful Tribute
The actress shares touching memories of working with the late singer
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, Dolly Parton appeared in Hallmark's 'Christmas at Dollywood.'
- The film starred Danica McKellar and Niall Matter as they planned an event at Dollywood.
- Here, read all about Danica's touching tribute to the late singer.
Dolly Parton’s film career included everything from heartfelt dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, but most might not realize that the country music icon left her mark on the Hallmark Channel as well. After news broke of her passing earlier this week, the world has been mourning the loss of an influential talent, and as we remember all that she gave, it’s brought some comfort to look back on her projects that provided hours upon hours of joy and entertainment—and Hallmark’s Christmas at Dollywood was no exception. Here, take a look back on her 2019 film, and see how her former castmates are remembering her after her passing.
‘Christmas at Dollywood’ was a joyful holiday flick
In 2019, Danica McKellar took the lead in Hallmark’s Christmas at Dollywood as a New York event planner who heads to Pigeon Forge for the holidays to plan Dollywood’s annual Smoky Mountain Christmas extravaganza. While there, she’s forced to team up with the park’s head of operations (played by Niall Matter), and the duo doesn’t exactly see eye to eye at first. As the two warm up to one another, feelings start to blossom—but not without a little help from Dolly herself. In addition to traditional Hallmark romance at the heart of the film, it also highlighted Dolly’s Imagination Library, which provides free monthly books to children from birth until 5 years old.
Danica McKellar took to Instagram to share a clip from the film and gave fans a glimpse at the movie’s origin story. “I still remember pitching the idea to @billabbotthc,” she wrote, tagging Bill Abbott, current president and CEO of Great American Media and former CEO and president of Crown Media. “’How about a movie that lifts up Dolly Parton’s literacy program @imaginationlibrary?’ I’d never heard him say yes so quickly. I’m so grateful to Bill and every single person involved with that film for making that movie possible. Such fond memories.”
Danica McKellar looked back on her time spent with Dolly
Anyone who’s ever been lucky enough to share the stage, the screen or a conversation with Dolly has been sharing stories of the way she’s impacted them—and even those who have only gotten to know her through a pair of headphones or through a television screen have shared the same sentiment. Ultimately, Dolly touched millions of lives over the course of her career in the public eye, and Danica McKellar expressed the love she had for the artist in a touching tribute.
“Just wanted to offer my condolences to everyone who loved Dolly Parton,” McKellar tearfully said in a video she shared to social media. “I’m one of those people. I was fortunate enough to work with her in 2019 on a movie called Christmas at Dollywood, and she was everything I’d always hoped she would be. Before I did that movie, I actually had the opportunity to work with her because one of my math books, Goodnight Numbers, was part of her Imagination Library,” she shared, referring to one of the children’s books she authored.
Danica shared a story of how she narrated the documentary The Library That Dolly Built, and while recording, Dolly paid her a surprise visit.
“She was just incredible. The thing about Dolly Parton is that yes, she was talented, yes, she was an icon, yes, all those things, but she made you feel so good. She made everybody feel so great about themselves, no matter what. No matter who you were. She knew exactly the right thing [to say],’’ she shared. “That’s something that I’m hoping that I can—I’ve always thought, ever since I’ve met her and experienced it, I was like, ‘I want to do that. I want to learn that.’ I mean, if everybody did that, we’d be in a much different world. Dolly Parton, you’re incredible. You did everything for everybody all the time. Your legacy is unmatched. And I’m so grateful that I got to know you for a short time.”
To see Danica and Dolly shine alongside one another, catch Christmas at Dollywood streaming now on Hallmark+.
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