When the news broke that country music icon Dolly Parton had died after a brief battle with cancer, traffic on Crockett Road in Brentwood slowed to a crawl.
Passerbys watched as others parked their cars on the side of the road and walked up to the gates of Parton's home with bouquets of flowers in hand.
The driveway filled with momentos. Balloons tied to the gate bobbed in the air and signs weaved between the bars cited some of Parton's most iconic songs.
"We will always love you," the sign in the middle of the tributes said.
Scott Johannessen, one of Parton's Brentwood neighbors, said she'd be remembered forever.
"Dolly Parton gathered the music sleeping above the world, and
woke it into song. A bittersweet time indeed," he said. "She is a loved person and an extraordinary musician, a true singer-songwriter, for the ages."
Kimberlee Andrews was among the first to pay her respects the afternoon of Aug. 25.
"Over the years here in Brentwood I always got a thrill being down the way from Dolly’s house," she said in a social media post. "Today, we gathered flowers from our home to honor her legend and rare talent. I know this collection will grow tonight. Wishing her eternal peace."
The collection did indeed grow, and by the morning of Aug. 26 traffic had picked up considerably.
What we know about Parton's death
Parton faced a series of health concerns in recent months that kept her from a couple public appearances.
"As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures," Parton said in a statement to social media. "As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile checkup, although it's not my usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!"
In August 2026, appearing in the video with colorful butterfly wings fluttering behind her, Parton explained why she could not attend the NightFlight debut.
"My little butterfly wings are getting tired. Now, I've told you before, all my fans, that I've had a few little health issues, and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated.
Parton's death came after a brief stay in the hospital. She was admitted to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville Aug. 21. News of her death came suddenly Aug. 25 when her social media accounts posted a video from her nephew Bryan Seaversharing the news.
"Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest," he continued, "Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Memorial grows at Dolly Parton's Brentwood home
