I Visited Dolly Parton’s Home to Say Goodbye—But I Left Feeling More Grateful Than Ever
Paying my respects to the Queen of Country reminded me of the lasting impact of a kind heart
Key Takeaways
- Dolly Parton's presence in Nashville is felt everywhere—from murals to music and beyond.
- The author saw Dolly in person at her Broadway show and at her final public appearance.
- Fans are gathering at Dolly's Brentwood home to pay tribute with flowers, letters and gifts.
There are some people you feel like you know even though you don’t really know them. For me, Dolly Parton is one of those people. I’ve been a Dolly fan for as long as I can remember, but my appreciation for the Queen of Country blossomed tenfold the minute I moved to Tennessee.
A few years ago, my husband and I moved from Los Angeles to Nashville and within a day, I was in awe over how present Dolly was in town. I’d walk by open windows on side streets and hear a raspy rendition of “Jolene.” I’d be stuck in traffic downtown and look up to see a colorful handpainted mural of Dolly. I’d hear stories from locals about how she truly is as kind as you think she is. Little did I know, I’d soon start covering the ‘Dolly beat’ at Woman’s World. This allowed me to attend the premiere of her Broadway show here in Nashville, which turned out to be one of two times I’d see her in person. (More on that later!)
Proof of her goodness is everywhere—from her Imagination Library to her local donations to pediatric disease research and her willingness to still give new artists a chance. When I heard the news of her passing, my heart sank into my stomach. It was like a light went out. I thought, Please no. If anyone could live forever it was Dolly, right? I was traveling out of state at the time, so my trek back to Tennessee was heavy. As the plane prepared for landing, I saw a faint pink glow glistening from the airport below in honor of Dolly. I smiled and mentally corrected myself, Of course a light didn’t go out. Her sparkle is stronger than ever. If it were anyone else, that might sound hyperbolic but for Dolly it’s true.
I kept thinking about Dolly, and her light, long after the plane landed. For days, I cried as I watched video clips and read stories from strangers about how much they loved her. Feeling grief for superstars is sometimes considered parasocial these days, but the universal outpouring of sadness, love and gratitude for Dolly proves that these feelings, and her impact, are very real for millions of us.
She was a true pioneer not only in music, but in following your dreams, staying true to yourself and in turn accepting yourself and others. In many ways, Dolly’s kindness, self-love and empathy for others inspired people to not only love her immensely in return but also love themselves a little more. She empowered women and all people. I can’t think of a more powerful legacy. So on Sunday, I took the 24-minute drive from my house to Dolly’s house to say the one thing I never got to tell her in person—thank you.
The first day I saw Dolly sparkle in person
But first, let’s rewind for a minute and revisit the first time I saw Dolly in person. It was a hot day in August 2025 when I received a press confirmation to attend the premiere of Dolly’s Broadway play here in Nashville. And thanks to long-time Woman’s World writer Deborah Evans Price, who has known Dolly for decades, we were approved to interview her on the red carpet.
I immediately made an appointment to get my hair blown out. “What style are you looking for today,” the hairstylist asked me. “Big and bouncy—with a lot of volume,” I answered. If you’re potentially meeting Dolly Parton, it’s really the least you could do.
A few hours later, I pulled up to the Fisher Center for Performing Arts at Belmont University with my mini mics and interview questions in hand. We were told Dolly is always on time so to be ready for her, and we were. I saw the looks of astonishment on other people’s faces before I saw Dolly…so I followed their line of vision and there she was.
As soon as I saw her, I felt like I was going to cry tears of joy. I had goosebumps head to toe. She graciously made her way to every journalist and when she walked over to Deb and me, I couldn’t believe it. She really did sparkle. I’ve always heard people talk about certain celebrities having an aura and I’m here to tell you, dear reader, that Dolly Parton had one. It was golden pink and shimmered as much as the iridescent sequins on her outfit that day. I didn’t officially “meet” Dolly or shake her hand, but getting to see her, smile with her and laugh along with her while recording the interview for Woman’s World was more than I could ever ask for.
When Deb asked Dolly what she hopes people—women in particular—will take away from her Broadway play (which debuts in New York City in December) she was quick to answer. “That we’re good. We’re strong. We’re stout and we can do things—and that dreams can come true,” Dolly told us. “So if you work hard enough and believe in what you are doing, I think it will all happen.”
Dolly’s last public appearance was in Cookesville—and I was there
Another one of the reasons Dolly is so beloved is that despite all her fame and fortune, she always remained a woman of the people. Her final public appearance was a testament to that. It wasn’t a fancy televised gala or a stadium concert. It was at a truck stop in Cookeville, but it was just as magical.
On June 24th, I showed up excited to cover the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop. I knew there would be live music, food and all things Dolly, but I had no idea she would actually show up. Midway through the event, we were told she was there. I was ecstatic. Hundreds of us braved the Tennessee heat to see Dolly in person, and when she stepped outside in a signature glistening outfit complete with 5-inch platform heels, she was luminous. “How’s everybody doing today out in that hot boiling sun?” she asked the crowd with a wink. (I wrote more about this event in detail here.)
Her megawatt smile, humor and grace were on full display that day. Later that evening, I told family and friends about seeing her in person again. My mom asked what she was like. I said she was just as spectacular—and funny—as ever. She brought joy with her everywhere she went and her final appearance was no different.
Just last month, I covered Dolly’s symphony show during its residency here in Nashville. The team invited me backstage to a recreation of Dolly’s dressing rooms over the years, complete with framed photos, handwritten lyrics and letters—and, of course, wigs galore. It was perfect.
I interviewed the three talented “Dollys” performing vocals for the show and each one shared her own personal stories with the Queen of Country. They expressed their love for her, her music and how she changed their lives for the better. Afterward, I watched the show from the 15th row and listened to the lyrics of Dolly’s life—from “The Coat of Many Colors” to “My Tennessee Mountain Home” and “I Will Always Love You.” I left the theater once again inspired by the extraordinary life of a girl who grew up in a two-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Driving to Dolly’s house to say ‘thank you’
On Sunday, my husband, Ian, drove me to Dolly’s house because he knows how much she means to me. He wanted to offer support in some small way. I sat in the passenger seat, my carefully curated Dolly playlist playing as we drove down the winding roads of Brentwood. “It’s been a long dark night. And I’ve been a-waiting for the morning. It’s been a long hard fight,” Dolly’s honey-sweet voice sang as we inched closer to her house.
We knew we had arrived when we saw lines of cars and police directing traffic. As we pulled up, I hopped out of the car while he parked. I wanted a few moments alone to pay tribute.
Dolly’s estate stood proudly on acres of lush green grass. Fans of all ages approached the home’s gates armed with fresh flowers, letters, cards, balloons and handpainted artwork. Though there were dozens of people there, it was nearly quiet. I was moved by how peaceful it felt. Walking in front of the gates, I saw her home’s front doors and at my feet were piles of colorful flowers—sunflowers, tulips, hydrangeas, red roses, daisies and the like.
How Dolly’s light continues to shine
One man wept silently. One woman whispered to her friend, “I still can’t believe it.” Then, a mom wearing a cowboy hat walked up with her two young sons, each holding small bouquets. The mom was clearly a devoted Dolly fan, but her tears weren’t what struck me. It was her son’s words: “Mom, where is Dolly now? Is she up in heaven?” It was quiet enough that everyone gathered nearby heard the sweet exchange. We all looked at each other for a beat. His mom answered, “Yeah buddy, she is.”
At this moment, the sunlight was reflecting off the cellophane balloons and bouquet wraps. It was unexpectedly beautiful, but why was I surprised? If anyone could make an impromptu driveway tribute a sight to behold, it was Dolly. And if her sparkle is still shining like this, maybe the best thing we can all do is keep looking for ways to reflect it.
I left my handwritten note of gratitude along with a pretty pink faux flower bouquet—a slight nod to one of my favorite quotes of hers: “I think there’s a little magic in the fact that my heart is so totally real, but I appear so artificial.”
I didn’t expect this quick visit to Dolly’s house to be so moving, but it was. It was the ideal way to say thank you and a welcome reminder that her joy is still all around us.
As we pulled away, that song she recorded in 1977 resumed playing. Dolly sang as if on cue, “I see a brand new day dawning. I’ve been looking for the sunshine. You know I ain’t seen it in so long, but everything’s gonna work out just fine. Everything’s gonna be all right.” Leave it to Dolly…still finding ways to provide comfort and light. For that, I’m more grateful than ever.
I will always love you, Dolly and I’ll be thinking of you “each step of the way.”
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