Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, has left a hole in the hearts of her fans and all those who were close to her. For those unaware, the legendary singer was 80 years old at the time of her death. The tragic news of her passing was shared by her nephew and longtime head of security, Brian Seaver, via a video on Instagram.
Dolly was laid to rest in a private funeral service attended by her immediate family on August 28, 2026. Now, while remembering the Jolene singer, Dolly’s creative director, Steve Summers, opened up about what she really was like during their 35-year friendship.
Steve Summers recalls his first impression of Dolly Parton as a ‘little gay boy’
Dolly Parton’s longtime creative director Steve Summers was only 10 years old when he first came across Dolly Parton thanks to the vinyl record covers that his grandfather had put up all over his walls. This was back in the summer of 1974, a time when the singer’s hair and clothes had left Steve completely ‘fascinated.’ As a ‘little gay boy,’ looking at her pictures made it clear to him how comfortable Dolly was with herself. In his words:
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