This Child’s Response to Seeing Dolly Parton Nonetheless Feels Common

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There are moments in life that capture something ineffable about what it means to love an artist across generations. 

One year ago, an 8-year-old boy named Owen stood at the edge of a street at Dollywood, pink pom-pom in hand, and reminded the world why Dolly Parton remains one of the most beloved figures in American music.

The video of his reaction went viral. 

But what many fans may not have realized at the time was that this joyful encounter came during one of the most difficult periods in Parton’s life—just eleven days after she lost the love of her life.

A surprise appearance that no one expected 

On March 14, Parton surprised thousands of her fans when she appeared at Dollywood’s 2025 opening day celebration to celebrate the theme park’s 40th anniversary season.

She has made it an annual tradition, but no one expected her to follow through on that tradition last year.

The 79-year-old entertainer had been mourning since the death of her husband, Carl Dean, on March 3, at the age of 82. The couple had been married for 58 years—a remarkable testament to enduring love in an industry where long marriages are the exception rather than the rule.

Her carriage stroll at Dollywood marked her first public appearance since his death.

For devoted fans who have followed Parton’s career through decades of music, movies, and philanthropy, the significance of this moment cannot be overstated.

 Here was a woman who had just lost her partner of nearly six decades, choosing to show up for the community that has supported her throughout her extraordinary career.

One young fan made Dolly Parton’s appearance worth it

In one TikTok video, shared by Jordan Ramey on March 17, his 8-year-old son Owen is standing on the edge of the street when Parton strolls by in a flower-bedecked carriage.

The wave of excitement overcame him unlike anything else.

“Oh my God!” he screamed several times as he waved a pink pom-pom. His scream grew even louder when Parton laid eyes on one of her youngest, biggest fans and pointed directly at him.

The pure, unfiltered joy in Owen’s reaction struck a chord with viewers around the world. Here was a child born decades after Parton’s rise to fame, yet completely overwhelmed by the magic of seeing her in person.

His father opened up about the boy’s reaction in an interview with People, published March 24.

“I was laughing and shocked at the way he was reacting,” Ramey said. “The whole time we were standing there, he didn’t act that excited at all. But the moment he laid eyes on her and she acknowledged him, he lost it.”

“He’s always seen her pictures all over the DreamMore [Resort], and I think when he saw her in real life, he realized, ‘WOW, she’s real!’” he added. 

It was a moment Owen had been waiting for his entire life.

“Owen has been going to Dollywood since he was 3 years old,” the father added. “He is crazy about Dollywood! He loves everything about it. He’s fearless when it comes to riding roller coasters.”

The internet agreed with Owen’s excitement

Many of Parton’s fans took to the comment section of Ramey’s video to share the excitement.

“If Dolly Parton acknowledged my existence you best believe I’d be screaming too,” one TikTok user wrote.

“Honestly everybody else underreacting,” another user commented.

“honestly everyone should be matching his energy it’s DOLLY PARTON!!!” Spotify added in a comment of its own.

For longtime fans, Owen’s reaction validated something they’ve always known: Dolly Parton is special. She transcends generations. She makes people feel seen, whether they’re eight or 80.

Dolly Parton’s quiet grief behind the glitter

What makes this moment even more poignant is understanding what Parton was carrying with her that day.

Her appearance came just 11 days after her husband’s death — and she opened up about her emotions in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, published one week later. 

“I’m doing as well as one can after 60 years being with and loving somebody,” she told ET on March 21. “I miss him… I was with him for so long.”

Carl Dean was famously private throughout their marriage, rarely appearing in public alongside his superstar wife. Yet their bond was the foundation upon which Parton built her empire. 

She spoke of him often, with tenderness and humor, giving fans glimpses into a relationship that grounded her amid the whirlwind of fame.

While she said her husband “did suffer a lot for the last few years” and a part of her is “happy he’s at peace and at rest,” Parton was still grappling with the fact that he’s no longer with her.

“But then, of course, there’s part of me that will miss him forever and long for him every day and for the rest of my life, I’m sure,” she explained to ET.

Her willingness to be vulnerable about her grief, while still showing up for her community, exemplifies the authenticity that has made her beloved for over five decades.

March 3 will mark the one-year anniversary of Dean’s death

As we approach the one-year anniversary of Carl Dean’s death, Owen’s viral moment serves as a beautiful reminder of what Dolly Parton means to her fans.

In that brief exchange—a wave of a pink pom-pom, a pointed finger from a flower-bedecked carriage, a child’s unbridled scream of joy—we see the essence of why Parton has endured. 

She connects. Acknowledges. And makes every fan feel like they matter, even when her own heart is breaking.

For the multi-generational community of Dolly devotees, this anniversary is a time to hold space for both celebration and tenderness. We celebrate a woman who, at 79, continues to show up with warmth and generosity. 

And we honor the loss of the man who stood beside her, quietly and faithfully, for 58 years.

Owen’s reaction one year ago captured what so many of us feel but rarely express so purely: the overwhelming gratitude of being seen by someone who has given us so much joy.

Honestly, same.