I always imagined Dolly Parton’s passing would be a sad day. I just didn’t realize how deeply it would affect me.

On November 29, 2016, Dolly Parton performed at the Pensacola Bay Center. That night, I had the opportunity to see a bucket-list artist alongside my daughter, Hope.

By that point, I had spent 28 years playing Dolly’s music on country radio. After all those years, I had built up plenty of expectations about what it would be like to see her perform—and possibly meet her.

Meeting Dolly

Hope and I arrived at the Bay Center unsure of exactly what the evening would bring. Then Dolly’s team invited us backstage to say hello.

My nerves immediately kicked in.

We were asked to line up behind the stage with members of Dolly’s foundation and some longtime fan-club members. It was also the first time I had ever encountered bomb-sniffing dogs working a backstage line. I laughed nervously, but Dolly’s security was clearly next level.

Hope and I were near the back of the line. As we approached a large black curtain, we could hear Dolly chuckling. We could hear the laughter of the people meeting her ahead of us.

Then it was our turn.

Behind that curtain, we met exactly the person I had always hoped Dolly Parton would be.

She was warm, funny and incredibly kind. She noticed that Hope and I were wearing Cat Country 98.7 yellow and joked that we matched her outfit. She told Hope she was beautiful, and I just stood there smiling.

I was a proud dad. I was also proud to represent our radio station and the Pensacola community.

Dolly treated us as though she was genuinely happy we were there. She asked Hope what she wanted to do after college and thanked us for taking the time to come to her show. She never made us feel rushed. For those few minutes, she made us feel important.

It is hard to believe that moment was nearly 10 years ago.

Seeing Dolly perform—and experiencing her kindness backstage—made the icon feel human to me. It deepened my appreciation not only for her music, but also for the artist, entertainer and person she was.

After learning of her passing, I asked Hope what she remembered about that night.

“She was incredibly kind and engaging,” Hope told me. “I remember she talked to us longer than you’d expect and asked questions. She radiated star power and was 100% herself.”

That is exactly how I remember her, too.

Like so many people, I’m in my feelings today. Dolly’s songs have been part of my life and my radio career for decades. But because of that evening in Pensacola, I will remember more than her unmistakable voice, brilliant songwriting and legendary career.

I will remember her kindness.

“When I Get Where I’m Going,” I look forward to hearing Dolly tell a few more stories. Until then, I take comfort in believing Dolly and Carl are together again.

Dolly, we will always love you.

Dolly Parton’s Passing

Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

Her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, confirmed that Dolly died following a brief battle with cancer and was surrounded by loved ones. The specific type of cancer has not been publicly disclosed.

News of her death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a video shared through Dolly’s official social media accounts. Seaver, who served as Dolly’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to make the announcement when the time came.

Dolly had experienced several health challenges during the final year of her life. She postponed—and later canceled—a planned Las Vegas residency while undergoing medical treatment. Just days before her death, she acknowledged that she had neglected some of her own health concerns while caring for her husband, Carl Dean.

Carl, Dolly’s husband of nearly 60 years, died in March 2025 at the age of 82. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Avie Lee and Robert Lee Parton Sr.

At Dolly’s request, a small, private funeral service will be held for immediate family. Fans around the world are encouraged to share their memories and tributes by tagging @DollyParton on social media.

In honor of Dolly’s life and extraordinary cultural impact, President Donald Trump ordered American flags lowered to half-staff for one week. Tributes have poured in from fellow artists, actors, public officials and millions of fans around the world.

In lieu of flowers, Dolly’s family asks that donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she founded in 1995. The program has delivered more than 300 million free books to children around the world.

Additional information is available through Dolly Parton’s official website and the Associated Press report on her passing.