08/26/2026
Today, East Tennessee lost one of its brightest lights✨️
Dolly Parton may have called the mountains of Sevier County home, but she belonged to all of East Tennessee — and in so many ways, to all of us🫶
She carried the heart of these mountains with her everywhere she went. Through her music, her generosity, her love for children, her unmistakable kindness and the way she never forgot where she came from, Dolly showed the world something special about the place we are so blessed to call home🥹
Tonight, flags across our country are being lowered to half-staff in her honor — a fitting tribute to a Tennessee girl whose impact reached far beyond our state lines🇺🇸
From our little corner of East Tennessee in Historic Downtown Lenoir City, we join so many others in saying thank you, Dolly🦋
Thank you for the music.
Thank you for the laughter.
Thank you for the books.
Thank you for loving these mountains.
And thank you for making East Tennessee so incredibly proud.
Rest peacefully, Dolly. Your light will shine here for generations to come✨️
1946–2026