News

Fans remember Dolly as historic courthouse glows pink

The dome of Henderson County’s historic court house on Main Street glowed pink as about 300 people gathered for a vigil in downtown Hendersonville on Friday to honor the late country music legend Dolly Parton.

By Amy McCraw, Published: August 29, 2026

Hundreds of fans of the late country music legend Dolly Parton came together in Hendersonville Friday night to remember the woman born poor in the Smoky Mountains who went on to touch people around the world through her music, philanthropy and kind heart.

A crowd of at least 200 people gathered shortly before dark in front of Henderson County’s Historic Courthouse on Main Street where a DJ played Dolly’s hits including “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “Here You Come Again” along with some of her lesser- known songs.
When “Islands In the Stream,” Parton’s famous duet with Kenny Rogers, began to play, the DJ suggested Rogers was waiting for Parton when she arrived in heaven after passing away on Aug. 25.
Several people danced with each other and their children and sang along to the music while others stood silently holding candles.
A few people shed tears as they remembered Parton’s life and accomplishments and their own trips to her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Some in the crowd lined up to take selfies with a cardboard cutout of Parton placed next to a table promoting Parton’s Imagination Library in Henderson County, which is administered through the county’s Smart Start program. Many donated to the program that gives free books to children by putting money in a box sitting on the table.
The dome of the courthouse glowed pink after dark in honor of Parton. County government officials after Parton’s death announced pink lights on the courthouse will glow in honor the late singer each night for one week.
Rain began to fall shortly before the vigil wrapped up at about 9 p.m., but many people remained at the celebration as the DJ played Parton’s hit “I Will Always Love You.”
They put their arms around each other, swayed to the music and held lights from their cellphones high as Parton sang her famous song that includes the line, “Goodbye, please don’t cry.”
Those who stayed until end of the vigil were treated to the sounds of Parton begging Jolene to “please, don’t take my man” as they made their way back to their cars.