Getting tatted might not be first thing that comes to mind when celebrating “Dolly Parton Day,” but for many people, the ceremonial act was quite fitting and deeply moving.
While getting a tattoo of a mason jar filled with fireflies on her left arm, Emma Mills recalled collecting fireflies with her grandma in her backyard.
Mills – who is studying to become a special education teacher partly because of Parton’s Imagination Library – was at Idle Hands Tattoo for the shop’s Parton-themed flash tattoo fundraiser on Sept. 25. She particularly liked her tattoo design’s sparkle and shine.
“The shine, honestly, helps me remember how (Parton) shines so much and to keep going whenever it gets hard, and be that little firefly for some students who have that trouble
(with reading),” Mills told Knox News.
The “9 to 5” (9/25) event was Idle Hands’ first-ever Dolly-themed flash event. All the images were custom designed by the shop’s tattoo artists.
“She celebrated diversity and she celebrated what is different that makes us all unique and I think that this is a great way to do it,” co-owner Jess Jefferson said.
Our love letter to Dolly: Celebrate Dolly Parton’s life with our exclusive book, which contains 100s of images from our archives
A portion of the day’s sales will be donated to Imagination Library. The shop had set a goal of donating $3,000 with about 80 customers expected.
“A lot of the books celebrate diversity. They're bilingual. They introduce creativity and it's a great way to give back, and so we're proud to do it,” Jefferson said.
Co-owner Jaysin Jefferson reflected that even Parton would give her stamp of approval, especially since the stigma against tattoos has lessened.
“If the era was different and Dolly was doing her ‘9 to 5’ song in today's world, I think, in a music video standpoint, all of those people would have tattoos. The very 9-to-5 blue-collar, new-collar people are all highly tattooed,” he said as “9 to 5” played in the shop. “So, I think she would definitely relate to this.”
The heartfelt meanings behind tattoos inspired by Dolly Parton
Addison Montgomery (not the character from “Grey’s Anatomy”) also found meaning in her Dolly-themed tattoo. She opted forone of Parton’s quotes designed in script writing: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,” it reads.
“It fits. You have to have the bad times with the good. I mean, that's with everything in life,” Montgomery said. “I didn't want like an actual Dolly face or a head. I wanted something that fits in with her and with the rest of my life, and that does.”
Married couple Caleb and Emma Parrott both got their first Dolly-inspired tattoos to support the Imagination Library.
“Being out of Blount County was one of the coolest things being able to get a book from that,” Caleb said. “And then when (my wife) mentioned this, I had no problem saying, you know, absolutely, I'll support you and I have no problem supporting that cause."
Caleb chose a simple design of the Smoky Mountains. His parent’s backyard is near the base of the Foothills Parkway.“So, that is something, no problem, that I have to keep with me for the rest of my life,” he said.
Underneath Nancy Kasulis’ forearm, there is a tattoo that her daughter designed, and she will soon be adding hearts and flowers to represent her children and grandchildren. Parton joined her family-inspired tattoos, too. “I just thought the butterfly for Dolly would be perfect right there,” she said.
“I mean, who doesn't love a good butterfly,” Jess told to Knox News earlier, which she also suggested I get as a first tattoo.
I did not get a butterfly tattoo (sorry, Dolly), but Knox News visual journalist Angelina Alcantar did get her very first tattoo on Dolly Day.
“I think Dolly would be laughing at me right now. And she would be saying ‘Go, girl!’” Alcantar said while getting a tattoo of flowers.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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East Tennessee will never forget Dolly Parton – and now you can make your memories all the brighter with "Dolly: A Life of Many Colors," a 160-page commemorative hardcover from the Knoxville News Sentinel and The Tennessean.
The exclusive collector's edition chronicles Parton's journey from her Appalachian roots to the Grand Ole Opry stage, her biggest hits and movies and the creation of Dollywood, through compelling photographs with the stories behind them. Order your copy today at usatodaystore.com to get it before the holidays.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: On Dolly Day, these fans showed their love with custom tattoos
