A young Dolly Parton superfan got a once-in-a-lifetime experience watching her procession through Dollywood last Friday (March 14), and his reaction is going viral on social media.
The eight-year-old boy screams, cheers and clutches his face as Parton rolls past. All the fans watching were excited to see her, but this young fan’s reaction stood out.
It’s easy to understand why he was so starstruck, though: Not only was he seeing the country legend in person for the very first time, but she saw him back. Parton pointed him out in the crowd, waved and smiled in delight at his enthusiasm.
“Who was it?” says someone behind the camera, presumably his parent, as they train the camera on the young boy’s face after Parton’s carriage passes by.
“Dolly!” he screeches back, clutching his face in his hands.
In the comments section of the video, TikTok users quickly chimed in in solidarity with the boy’s reaction.
“Honestly everybody else under-reacting,” someone wrote.
“If Dolly Parton acknowledged my existence you best believe I’d be screaming, too,” someone else added.
“Why would I have the same reaction at 22 years old,” a third said.
Read More: Why Dolly Parton + Her Husband Carl Dean Never Had Kids
Parton’s stop at Dollywood, to celebrate the park’s 2025 season opening, marked her first appearance since her husband Carl Dean died on March 3. At that event, she said that participating in events like this one are a welcome way to fill up the “hole in her heart” after the loss.
She also said that she was “doing better than I thought I would,” considering that she and Dean had been together for six decades by the time he died.
“I’ve been with him 60 years. So I’m going to have to re-learn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close,” Parton explained.
PICTURES: Look Inside Dolly Parton’s Longtime Nashville Home
Dolly Parton’s surprisingly humble former home in Nashville has finally sold, after many years on and off the market. Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, purchased the 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in 1980, and they owned it until 1996. It’s been on and off the market for 12 years, finally selling for $849,000 in December of 2021.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
PICTURES: See Inside Dolly Parton’s Charming California Cabin
Dolly Parton has sold her cozy cabin in California, and pictures show a charming retreat that’s as down-home as she is.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Top 20 Dolly Parton Songs: Her Biggest Hits And Most Underrated Deep Cuts
There are many country music legends in the business, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another as universally revered as Dolly Parton. Here are 20 of her greatest songs of all time.
Dolly Knows Best: Dolly Parton’s 14 Best Quotes
Dolly Parton’s funny quips and words of wisdom are so memorable they’ve earned their own name: Dollyisms! Here are 14 of her best quotes through the years.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
30 Photos of Dolly Parton Young
Dolly Parton has been a fixture in country music and really, all of entertainment, since the 1960s. The only thing that has changed about the icon is her age — she’s as radiant as she’s ever been! Check out these pictures of a young Dolly Parton.
Gallery Credit: Evan Paul
