Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Dolly Records.
Aug. 26, 2008 — Dolly Parton fans went crazy when they heard the news: Dolly died from congestive heart failure. The story might have actually even been treated as news by one or two official news organizations. Except that it wasn’t true.
Dolly, at last report, was still alive, working and looking forward to next month’s debut of the 9 To 5 stage production in Los Angeles.
"I’m fine," she told Nashville television station WKRN. "I did about have a heart attack when I found out I was dead. But I am feeling better than ever."
It’s hardly the first time a celebrity has been erroneously reported to have met his or her maker. It happened to Paul McCartney. It happened to Chet Atkins. And it happened to Mark Twain. In every instance, their passing was — to quote the affable Twain — "greatly exaggerated." A phrase that fits Dolly quite proportionately.