‘Steel Magnolias’, The Krewe of Dolly: Dolly Parton’s deep ties to Louisiana
By Erin Lowrey
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NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — Beloved Grammy-winning country singer, songwriter, and actress Dolly Parton died Tuesday at the age of 80.
She was known as the “Queen of Country.”
Parton was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, to parents Robert Lee Parton, a farmer, and Avie Lee Parton, to whom Parton credited her musical abilities. She was the fourth of 12 children. She married Carl Dean in May 1966, and the couple was together until his death on March 3, 2025. She is survived by six of her 11 siblings: Willadeene, Robert Jr., Stella, Cassie, Freida and Rach.
While not a Louisiana native, Parton had strong ties to the state.
Parton made her first recording in Louisiana at the age of 13. According to her website, Parton traveled with her grandmother to Lake Charles to record “Puppy Love” for Goldband Records.
One of her most iconic films was also shot in Louisiana.
Parton starred as Truvy Jones in “Steel Magnolias,” which was filmed in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1989.
Her biggest impact on the state was through her free gift-giving program called Imagination Library.
Through the Dollywood Foundation, Parton founded her Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1995.
The Louisiana chapter officially launched in 2023.
The program has gifted more than 37,000 Louisiana children free books.
In New Orleans, the Krewe of Dolly, a Carnival krewe and nonprofit organization, was founded in 2020.
The krewe, dressed as Parton herself, works to deliver free books to 15,000 children across New Orleans monthly.
The walking krewe is a favorite in Mardi Gras parades, often seen dancing to her hits such as “9 to 5.”
Just this year, the Krewe of Dolly organized and celebrated an 80th birthday party for Parton on Oak Street.
The event also featured a Dolly look-alike contest.
Parton also made an Endymion appearance in 1988 when she rode in the parade and performed at the Endymion Extravaganza.
A year later, she filmed musical performances with New Orleans artists such as The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Pete Fountain, and Allen Toussaint for her show “Dolly.”
In 1977, Parton performed at the St. Bernard Cultural Center.
Parton also traveled to New Orleans in 2016 when she brought her “Plain and Simple” tour to the Smoothie King Center.
In June 2025, Parton announced she would perform at a six-day residency in Las Vegas, planned for December 2025. However, she announced in September that the residency would be postponed to September of this year due to health problems.
“As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” she posted on social media. “As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”
Her message continued, “Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding.”
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