09/26/2026
Happy Dolly Parton Day
Looking across the tributes to Dolly Parton that have been reported since her passing, something extraordinary stands out. Yes, she is being roundly remembered as a legendary entertainer, brilliant songwriter, shrewd businesswoman, and champion of children’s literacy. But some tributes have gone well beyond the customary obituaries and personal remembrances. A Dolly Parton documentary, biopic, scripted series and Broadway musical are in the works. Her hit song "9 to 5” was played at the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. One evening at exactly 9:25 o’clock the Empire State Building illuminated its tower in sparkling pink (her favorite color). And her influence was honored with special performances dedicated to her music around the world in places as distant as Japan, Australia and Uganda… reflecting how Dolly had become not just the “Queen of Country” but a beloved international folk figure.
What makes these tributes so unusual isn’t simply the range of the audience that loved her. It’s that they come from institutions that normally have nothing in common.
Another interesting part of remembering Dolly Parton is how many people are emerging with a personal Dolly Story. Indeed, even The Trail of Painted Ponies has its Dolly Story.
It was some fifteen years ago that The Trail initiated a Celebrity Artist Series. We began approaching various celebrities with the invitation to creatively transform one of our horse sculptures into an original one-of-a-kind work of art. Dolly topped our list. Working with her team, we came up with a concept inspired by “Coat of Many Colors”, one of her most popular songs. The song tells a heartwarming tale of a penniless young girl whose mother sews her a patchwork coat of rags, which she wears to school proudly, and when other children laugh, she gives them a quick lesson about what it truly means to be “rich”. Our suggestion was that we title her Painted Pony “C**t of Many Colors" and that the design should feature a dazzling star-pattern quilt and butterflies to give her song “Coat of Many Colors” new life.
Upon its completion, "C**t of Many Colors” was shipped to Dolly Parton's Stampede in Branson, Missouri, where it proudly remains on display today.
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