‘What Dolly Gave Me’ documentary celebrates Dolly Parton’s East Tennessee legacy

ATL NOW / FILM & CULTURE

By ATL Now Staff   •   September 25, 2026   •   3 min read

23 MINUTES   /   INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY   /   FREE ON YOUTUBE

For Dolly Parton’s East Tennessee neighbors, her legacy lives in deeply personal places: a child’s bookshelf, a high school band uniform and the confidence to take pride in their mountain roots.

Those connections are at the center of What Dolly Gave Me: Celebrating an East Tennessee Folk Hero, a new independent documentary from Regional Emmy-nominated director Caleb Holland. The 23-minute film is scheduled to premiere free on YouTube Sept. 25, coinciding with what filmmakers describe as the inaugural Dolly Day.

Filmed across East Tennessee in the days and weeks following Parton’s death, the documentary explores how the community that helped shape her came together to mourn and celebrate her. Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80.

A hometown remembers

According to the film’s announcement, Holland follows tributes ranging from flowers and public art to music, towering blonde wigs and pink sequins. A Knoxville puppet parade and spontaneous dance party bring a celebratory dimension to the remembrance.

“Dolly always felt strangely like family to me, and I don’t think I realized how deeply until she was gone.”

— Caleb Holland, director

Holland initially planned to make a roughly two-minute social documentary. His trip to Knoxville and Sevier County grew into a longer project as interviews and stories accumulated.

The film features Sevier County Mayor Emeritus Larry Waters, who knew Parton growing up; Rachel Milford of Knoxville’s Cattywampus Puppet Council; Ally Slavick of Random Acts of Flowers; and local artists, musicians, business owners and residents.

Their recollections trace Parton’s influence through the books her Imagination Library delivered to children, the uniforms she purchased for her local high school band and the pride she inspired in fellow Appalachians.

The sound of the mountains

Music provides another thread. Knoxville singer-songwriter and music educator Kristiana McCombs wrote, produced and performed the soundtrack, combining original Dolly-inspired songs with traditional Appalachian folk music.

One tribute even turns glittery high heels into percussion, a nod to Parton’s use of her acrylic nails to help create the rhythm of “9 to 5.”

“Dolly’s love for the Tennessee mountains and the people who call them home is the heartbeat of the soundtrack,” McCombs said in the release.

For Atlanta fans, the online premiere offers a chance to hear from the people who experienced Parton’s generosity close to home. The accompanying soundtrack album is also available on major streaming platforms, according to the announcement.

Watch the documentary

What Dolly Gave Me: Celebrating an East Tennessee Folk Hero premieres free on YouTube Sept. 25. Set aside 23 minutes for a portrait of the community that knew Dolly as one of its own.

Watch the film ↗   Watch the trailer ↗

Film information and quotes provided by the filmmakers in a Sept. 23 press release.

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