As tributes continue to pour in following the death of Dolly Parton, Alyvia Alyn Lind is remembering the woman who had a profound impact on her life when she was just a child.
For many viewers, Alyvia will always be remembered as Little Dolly, the young version of Parton she portrayed in NBC’s Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors and Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. But Alyvia’s connection to Dolly was much more personal than simply playing an iconic figure on television.
She had the opportunity to meet Dolly, work with her and learn from her during an important and formative period of her childhood. Now, following Dolly’s passing, Alyvia has opened up about what that experience meant to her.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram, Alyvia reflected on her relationship with Dolly and the lasting impact the legendary entertainer had on her life.
Read Alyvia Alyn Lind’s original tribute to Dolly Parton on Instagram
Alyvia wrote:
“I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people.
I will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it.
Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine.
Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything.”
That distinction between playing Dolly and actually knowing her is at the heart of Alyvia’s tribute.
Alyvia was only a child when she was cast as Little Dolly in Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, the NBC television movie inspired by Parton’s childhood and her song of the same name. The project was deeply personal for Dolly, telling the story of her upbringing in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and the family experiences that helped shape the woman she would eventually become.
Dolly was personally involved in finding the young actress who would portray her. Alyvia ultimately won the role, and Dolly herself surprised the young actress with the news that she had been chosen.
For a young performer at the beginning of her career, it was an extraordinary opportunity. She wasn’t simply being asked to portray a famous person. She was being trusted to portray Dolly Parton’s childhood, with Dolly herself involved in the production.
The experience continued when Alyvia returned as Little Dolly for Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which aired on NBC in 2016. The sequel continued the story of Dolly’s childhood and gave Alyvia another opportunity to work on a project connected directly to Parton’s life.
Those two films became important early credits in Alyvia’s career, but their significance went well beyond acting.
Alyvia got to know Dolly.
That is what makes her tribute so meaningful.
She remembers Dolly as someone who believed in her, taught her and became part of her life during a formative period. “Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine,” Alyvia wrote.
Those words offer a glimpse into the personal side of Dolly that audiences could not necessarily see from watching her perform on stage or screen.
Dolly’s ability to encourage young people and make them feel that they could pursue their dreams was a recurring part of her public image, but Alyvia experienced that encouragement personally.
Since her time as Little Dolly, Alyvia has continued to build a career of her own. She went on to become known for her longtime role as Faith Newman on The Young and the Restless and later appeared in projects including Daybreak, Chucky and Wayward.
For those who have followed her career since her earliest days, however, her portrayal of Little Dolly remains a particularly memorable chapter.
There is something unique about portraying a real person while that person is still alive and actively involved in telling the story. Alyvia wasn’t recreating the life of someone she had only learned about through books or archival footage. She was portraying Dolly Parton while working with Dolly Parton.
That makes those performances even more meaningful in retrospect.
Audiences watched a young Alyvia bring Dolly’s childhood to life, while behind the scenes she was developing a personal connection with the woman whose younger self she was portraying.
Now, years later, Alyvia is looking back on that experience with the perspective of an adult who understands just how significant it was.
Dolly Parton’s influence extended far beyond her music. She became an actress, author, philanthropist, businesswoman and cultural icon whose work reached generations of people. But many of the tributes following her death have focused on something that cannot be measured by awards, record sales or career milestones: the way Dolly made people feel.
Alyvia’s tribute speaks directly to that side of Dolly.
She remembers the memories, lessons, laughter and light she will carry with her for the rest of her life. She also recognizes that the world has changed with Dolly’s passing, while believing that the light Dolly brought into the lives of others will continue.
“The world will never be the same without her,” Alyvia wrote, “but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it.”
For Alyvia, that light is connected to a very specific chapter of her life.
She was the little girl chosen to portray Dolly Parton.
She was given the opportunity to become a small part of Dolly’s story.
And in return, Dolly became a meaningful part of hers.
That is perhaps what makes Alyvia’s tribute such an important addition to the continuing remembrance of Dolly Parton. It isn’t simply a tribute from another actor or entertainer. It comes from someone whose own life was changed by the opportunity to know Dolly during childhood.
For those who watched Alyvia grow up after seeing her as Little Dolly, her words bring that story full circle.
We first saw her portraying Dolly’s childhood. Now, we hear from Alyvia about the woman she came to know.
Dolly Parton’s music, films and stories will continue to reach new generations, but so will the memories carried by the people who knew her.
Alyvia Alyn Lind is one of those people.
And as her tribute makes clear, Dolly Parton’s impact on her life will not end with Dolly’s passing.
“Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart.”
That may be one of the most personal and meaningful ways anyone could remember Dolly Parton.
Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say.
This is part of Trevor Decker News’ continuing coverage of Dolly Parton’s life, career and legacy.