Five-time Regional Emmy-nominated director Caleb Holland premieres What Dolly Gave Me: Celebrating an East Tennessee Folk Hero today, September 25, for the inaugural Dolly Day.
The new 23-minute independent documentary was filmed across East Tennessee in the days and weeks following Dolly Parton’s passing, capturing the remarkable ways her home region mourned and celebrated her through hometown stories, flowers and memorials, music, public art and a larger-than-life Knoxville puppet parade culminating in a spontaneous dance party in Market Square.
Knoxville is central to the film. It features Rachel Milford of Knoxville’s Cattywampus Puppet Council, Ally Slavick of Random Acts of Flowers, Sevierville Mayor Emeritus Larry Waters and other East Tennesseans reflecting on Dolly’s life, generosity and impact throughout the region.
The film also features an original Dolly-inspired Appalachian soundtrack written, produced and performed by Knoxville singer-songwriter and music educator Kristiana McCombs, including original songs and traditional Appalachian folk music, available now on all platforms. What Dolly Gave Me is available free on YouTube beginning today in celebration of Dolly Day.
