Celebrating Dolly Parton’s Life

Country music icon and esteemed philanthropist Dolly Parton, who died in 2026 at age 80, was beloved in her home state of Tennessee. In the days following her death, tributes to the Queen of Country included a memorial procession in downtown Knoxville that featured a 15-foot-tall Dolly puppet. During halftime at the Vols’ season opener at Neyland Stadium, the Pride of the Southland Band reshuffled to spell out “Dolly” in cursive script—complete with Dolly’s signature butterfly.

UT Libraries celebrated Dolly Parton’s life and legacy with a day of Dolly-themed crafts and music in the Medbery Makerspace. Guests could color a bookmark, make a button pin, or bedazzle a butterfly—while being entertained with a playlist of Dolly’s greatest hits.