Dolly Parton Statue

Sevierville, Tennessee

Dollywood, the theme park, is just up the road in Pigeon Forge, but we prefer this little celebrity landmark on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse. The statue is a life-size bronze, part of a 28-stop downtown walking tour of Dolly's hometown. Nearly everyone here claims to know her personally.

Under a shady tree, the figure is of young, starry-eyed Dolly, barefoot, sitting on a rock with her guitar. According to Dolly, for the first few years of the statue's existence her dad would put a bucket of soapy water in his pickup truck and clean off the statue's pigeon poop every night.

The plaque on the boulder reads: "Dolly - Jim Gray, Sculptor. This statue of Dolly Parton was erected through the generosity of the people of Sevier County. Dedicated May 3, 1987" along with names of the steering committee.

With no other fans in sight, elder Jack Kirby made his move, for the sake of our photography demands. Can't recall if we actually explained the whole good luck burnishing thing to him....