Following the death of the “Queen of Country Music,” Dolly Parton, on August 25, at 80, people have gathered in their hundreds around the bronze statue of a young Dolly in Sevierville.
There to pay their last respects; some stand in silence while others sing along as her voice sings through the air. Dolly belonged to the world, but she will always be East Tennessee’s Dolly.
The statue of Dolly Parton holding a guitar, seated on a rock, has been a pilgrimage site since it was erected in 1987. Colourful flower bouquets have surrounded the statue since the news of her passing. Stuffed animals, butterfly balloons, cards, notes, and framed images of Dolly Parton have also filled the base of the statue. 
Dolly Parton Never Forgot Her Roots
Parton had global fame, but her heart never left the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. She once said, “I’m the only person that ever left the Smoky Mountains and took them with her.” She even wrote about them in songs like “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” Parton called herself a proud Smoky Mountain girl, and did not stop returning there. To Parton, Tennessee, her place of birth, the wellspring of her generosity.
The answer to why Tennessee loves Dolly Parton can be found in the way she never stopped giving back to the place that raised her.
SEE ALSO: Dolly Parton Dies at 80: From Poverty to Global Stardom and a Legacy of Giving
Parton Always Gave Back to the Children of Tennessee
Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to help children in Sevier County succeed in school. She promised every seventh- and eighth-grader $500 if they graduated high school with the Buddy Program. This program reduced the rate of high school dropouts in the county from 35 percent to 6 percent.
In 1995, she founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sevier County. The programme sent free books each month to preschoolers. This expanded across the United States and into other countries, ultimately distributing hundreds of millions of books. The foundation has also continued to award scholarships to seniors at Sevier County High School.
Over and over, she said she believed charity begins at home. Parton believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful, and surrounded by love.
Dolly Parton’s Contribution to Disasters in Tennessee
After the devastating 2016 wildfires that tore through the Great Smoky Mountains and Sevier County, Parton created the My People Fund. It provided monthly support and final payments to hundreds of families who lost their homes, with more than $12 million ultimately distributed, plus additional scholarships.
Years later, she stepped up again for flooding in Middle Tennessee and for communities hit by Hurricane Helene, personally pledging $1 million while her East Tennessee businesses and foundation matched it.
These and many others proved her love and dedication to Tennessee and its people.
Even her last public outing stayed true to her Tennessee roots. On June 24, 2026, she made a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville. She said amid her joyful laughter and bright smile:
“I’m sure some of you wondered why I wanted a truck stop, well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers.”
Dollywood, the Tennessee theme Park, which she opened in 1985, had been closed on Tuesday according to its regular schedule.
“In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle — ‘the show must go on,” the company said in a statement. “Together, we honour her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance and hope,” they added.
Ultimately, why Tennessee loves Dolly Parton is simple: she never forgot where she came from and consistently used her success to lift the people of Tennessee.
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