During Dollywood’s 40th anniversary celebration on March 14, 2025, one little fan had the moment of a lifetime — and Dolly Parton herself was just as touched.
Eight-year-old Owen was standing along the parade route when Dolly passed by in a carriage decorated with flowers. Overcome with excitement, he waved a pink pom-pom, gasped “Oh my God!” again and again, and even covered his face in disbelief. His pure joy instantly caught Dolly’s eye.
Spotting him from the carriage, Dolly pointed, laughed, and shared a sweet exchange with the young boy — a moment Owen’s family captured on video. The heartwarming clip quickly went viral, amassing more than six million views on TikTok and melting hearts across the internet.
When Dolly was later shown the video on the Today show, she couldn’t help but laugh and tear up. “I remember him in the parade,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘Honey, are you going to have a heart attack and die right here in front of everybody?’” Dolly admitted she wanted to jump off the cart, run over, and hug him right then and there.
The outpouring of love from fans that day struck Dolly deeply. Still grieving the recent loss of her husband, Carl Dean, she shared that after the parade she sat in her van and “boo-hooed” from being so overwhelmed with emotion.
This touching exchange between Dolly and Owen became more than just a viral video. It was a reminder of the powerful bond between artists and their fans — proof that sometimes, even the smallest gestures can leave the biggest impact.
