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Dolly Parton’s death has not only led to an increase in streaming of her back catalog, but it’s also driven a surge
of search interest for the singer’s apparel and merch.
Online marketplace Depop tells Rolling Stone that it’s seen a 10,305% increase in searches for “Dolly T-shirts” since the singer passed on Aug. 25. The site, which offers a curated selection of vintage and second-hand clothing, currently has more than a thousand listingsfor Dolly Parton tees, including vintage concert T-shirts and tour merch dating back to the Eighties and Nineties. Pricing for these pieces runs the gamut, ranging from $3 for fan-made gear to upwards of $900 for authentic vintage tees.
Delta Men's Dollywood T-shirt
The “Depop Protection” plan ensures that what you purchase from the user-driven site will be as pictured and as described. If your item doesn’t arrive, arrives damaged, or is “significantly not as described,” you’ll get a full refund.
Searches for Dolly Parton T-shirts on eBay have also increased. After the news broke of Parton’s passing on the 25th, there were 140 times as many searches on the platform compared to the day before, according to the site. There are currently more than 5,000 listings for Dolly T-shirts on eBay, with vintage tees of the singer from the Seventies going for more than $1,000.
Retailers like Amazon and Walmart, meanwhile, are also selling through their inventory of Dolly Parton T-shirts, with both sites listing Parton tees among their bestselling products of the week. Thousands of shirts have been sold between the retailers in the last few days alone.
From official T-shirts to fan-created merch, here’s a look at what people are buying online.
AMAZON BESTSELLER
Dolly Parton Rope and Flower Framed Portrait T-Shirt
More than 3,000 shoppers have purchased this Dolly T-shirt in the last few days, according to Amazon. The officially-licensed release pays tribute to the Rhinestone Cowgirl with her portrait front and center, surrounded by a circular rope and floral frame. Choose from sizes XS to 6XL.
BEST FOR COUNTRY FANS
Dolly Parton Country Music Legend T-Shirt
Amazon says this Dolly Parton T-shirt has sold more than 1,000 units in the last few days, with the unisex design paying tribute to the country music queen and instrumentalist. Part of Parton’s official merch store on Amazon, this T-shirt is available in more than a dozen colors and sizes XS to 6XL.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Dolly Parton Vintage Polaroid T-Shirt
I love this Dolly Parton tee, which features a large print inspired by an old Polaroid photo of the singer. The black-and-white design enhances the vintage look and feel, with Parton’s signature adding the perfect finishing touch. Choose from multiple colorways and sizes online.
HOT TOPIC BESTSELLER
Dolly Parton Live Tonight T-Shirt
Hot Topic also has a selection of Dolly Parton T-shirts available to buy online, and the merch site’s current bestseller is this vintage-inspired concert tee. The “Dolly Parton Live” T-shirt is made from a ringspun cotton material that softens and wears in the more you wash it, for a lived-in look and feel. Choose from sizes XS to 3XL.
ROCK & ROLL FEEL
Dolly Parton Guitar Portrait T-Shirt
This T-shirt shows off an edgier side to the singer, who’s pictured posing with her guitar. Her name, meanwhile, is stylized like a theater marquee announcing the main event of the night.
ETSY BESTSELLER
Vintage Dolly Graphic Tee
Fans are also taking to Etsy to design and sell their own Dolly Parton tees. This one is an online bestseller, with dozens of units sold in the last few days and the T-shirt in more than 20 carts as of this writing. We like the retro-style graphic which showcases the country legend in all her colors. Choose from sizes small to 3XL (the T-shirt is available as a V-neck design as well).
FAN MADE MERCH
Vintage Dolly Parton Country Music Legend Tribute Tee
This Etsy shirt features a double-sided design, with an illustrated-style portrait of Parton on the front and an image of her chilling at the barn with her guitar on the back. Choose from sizes small to 4X and dozens of colorways, including the “pepper” color seen above. Tip: the T-shirt is produced in a classic, trim fit, so size up if you want the trendy oversize look seen in the photo.
GREAT GIFT IDEA
I Beg Your Parton Shirt
This Dolly T-shirt pays tribute with a pun, playing off the singer’s last name for a sassy comeback. Another Etsy bestseller, this unisex tee is currently on sale for 50% off (as of this writing).
WALMART BESTSELLER
Dolly Parton Men's Graphic Tee
And you can pick up this Dolly Parton T-shirt at Walmart, which the retailer labels as a bestseller online (it’s also currently in 100 people’s carts). The bold graphic tee puts Parton front and center, just where she deserves to be.
This cotton blend tee is selling quickly, with only sizes small to large still available.
It’s not surprising to see sales of Parton merch soaring in the wake of her death. The singer always had a special bond with her fans, and vice versa. As Rolling Stone’s Marissa Moss writes, the music icon had “Fans of what she stood for, fans of her advocacy work [and] fans of what loving Dolly Parton meant in and of itself. Parton didn’t just create music, but a feeling.”
Parton died on Tuesday (Aug. 25) after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
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