CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - As one of millions of die-hard Dolly Parton fans, today feels incredibly heavy.
The beloved country music legend died on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at age 80.
In times like this, I find myself remembering Dolly’s famous words: “If you want rainbows, you’ve got to put up with the rain.”
Dolly had a unique gift for uniting people, including myself and former QC Life host Kristen Miranda.
When I heard the heartbreaking news of Dolly’s passing on Tuesday, my first instinct was to reach out to Kristen. I knew she had interviewed Dolly, my idol, face-to-face at Dollywood, and I wanted to hear firsthand what it was really like to sit across from such a legendary, genuine soul who just seemed to shine wherever she went.
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You can watch my interview with Kristen Miranda in the video player up above.
During our chat, Kristen said that Dolly was everything you could ever hope she would be -- and 10 times more.
From Dolly’s bright, unwavering energy during back-to-back interviews to her fierce business tenacity and deep faith, she lived her life with a true, unmatched authenticity.
Kristen even shared a beautiful memory from their interview at the HeartSong Resort, where Dolly went out of her way to ask for personal letters Kristen had hand carried from fans. Dolly ended their chat with a warm hug, saying, “We’d be best girlfriends if you lived close by.”
While we are all navigating the bittersweet rain of losing Dolly, I am choosing to channel her spirit and feel immensely grateful for the joy, the music, and the beautiful legacy she left behind for us all.
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I never got to meet Dolly, so I love hearing stories. Feel free to send me your stories at jana.angel@wbtv.com.
Sending you all love wrapped in rhinestones, just as she would!
Go do it like Dolly.
“Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.”
---> Read more: Dolly Parton recorded a secret song to be released after her death
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