For my readers who don’t know, the pic above is of “the rock” on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Typically painted one to two times a week during fall or spring semesters. Sometimes after a painting of a significant event, the students leave it alone for a time. The old joke is that it is really a pebble with many, many coats of paint.

By now mostly everyone in the U.S. has learned of Dolly’s death yesterday. There have been many tributes written. Here are my personal thoughts and memories.

I did not grow up as a country music fan. Mom loved big bands and Frank Sinatra, Chubby Checker (she taught me the twist), and pop music from the 50’s. Dad loved jazz in addition to big bands. I grew up on rock and roll as a teenager in the 70’s. I didn’t listen to Country until moving to East Tennessee in 1992. This coincided with Dolly’s recent ownership of Dollywood (formerly Silver Dollar City) amusement park and her rising movie fame.

Dolly was born and raised in the next county (Sevier) over from Knoxville. Dollywood is located there, near the main TN entrance to the Great Smokies National Park. When my kids were young, we bought season tickets to Dollywood. I’d take the kids for a picnic and then we’d hit the park. With season tickets you don’t have to see/do everything in one day. I also had a rule – no souvenirs if we’d been somewhere more than once. One of my more brilliant Mom rules ever. Dollywood was more than rides, junk food, and souvenirs. I fondly remember crafts made in front of you for sale, the replica of the cabin where she was raised, the butterfly garden, etc. And the musical shows were always phenomenal.

Dolly was a Vol for life too. I remember when she gave the commencement speech and earned an honorary doctorate in Arts and Letters. She had her commencement gown taken in so that it hugged her curves.

I was fortunate to get to see her in concert in Knoxville in 2014 during her Blue Smoke tour. The crowd was filled with loads of her friends and family. She told many “inside” stories of local interest. She sang Rocky Top and we went wild. I lost count of how many instruments she played. I don’t mean she strummed a few seconds, I mean played for at least half a song – really played. I’ve been to my share of concerts in Thompson Boling Arena with its typically awful arena acoustics. That didn’t matter when Dolly was in the house. If you don’t know Rocky Top, it’s a fan favorite UT Volunteers football song. https://youtu.be/Eq94Q0APkgM?is=VxcclpJAOwx8VQoq

May your memory be a blessing, Dolly.