08/27/2026
This week we lost a legendary woman, the backbone of our East Tennessee community, and maybe the last person on this planet who truly knew how to bring us all together.
Growing up in East Tennessee, Dolly taught me that you never have to be ashamed of where you came from. She came from so little, dreamed so big, and worked hard to make those dreams her reality. She never used her upbringing as an excuse to slow down, and no matter how far she went, she never stopped paying tribute to the mountains that made her. Wanting more for yourself doesn’t have to mean disconnecting from who you are.
I have always been incredibly inspired by the way she never believed that being beautiful, blonde, feminine, or perfectly put together meant there was any less substance to her. She was all of those things while still being smart, kind, generous, funny, and resilient.
Dolly actually played the final role in helping us choose our home. I found our little cottage in the mountains, but knew it was quite literally in the middle of nowhere and needed a lot of tlc. We could have easily gone a different route and picked a move in ready property, but I saw the vision in this one. On the drive to the showing I begged for a sign; either for reassurance that this was where I was meant to be, or to turn my ass around. Before we left we walked into the shed and this is the last thing I saw.
“What would dolly do?”
This was the only real sign I needed. A *literal* sign that reminded me: Dolly would work for it. She would see the potential, take what she had, and make something beautiful out of it. So that’s what I chose to do.
Rest in peace, Dolly. Thank you for playing a small part in helping me find my Tennessee Mountain Home. You are loved fiercely not only by your community who is forever grateful for everything you’ve done, but the world.
