The world has benefited greatly from the existence of Dolly Parton – her musical talent, philanthropy and ability to always be unapologetically herself made her a special kind of global star. So her death, aged 80, has led to an outpouring of grief. Her fanbase is big and varied, with Sabrina Carpenter, Eminem and Reese Witherspoon all proudly on the list alongside superfan Alice Hawkins, 46, who took time to chat to us earlier this year before Parton’s death. Here, she shares how her long-held love for the icon has helped her through difficult times and what she plans to honour her life.
“I slip into my vintage yellow skirt suit with floral details and gold wedges, then pause to take in the reflection. The woman staring back feels a little different from my usual self, who often favours tracksuit bottoms and trainers. I don’t regularly dress as my idol, Dolly Parton. This is only the fifth occasion, but when I do, I commit fully. Getting it right matters, so preparation begins weeks in advance. I have my hair bleached blonde and my nails done, this time in a vibrant orange. Hair is such a defining part of Dolly’s identity, so it can’t be some cheap wig off eBay. I instead turn to an experienced hairstylist who’ll spend hours perfecting my Dolly hair. Finally, I do my own make-up, adding false eyelashes, eye make-up, blusher and lipstick. Before transforming I’d been in a bit of a rut, wondering who I was – but the thing about Dolly is that she always comes into my life when I need her.
Alice Hawkins is a big fan of Dolly Parton (Photo: Alice Hawkins)I’ve long been a fan of her music; every song makes me feel something, from “Little Sparrow” to “9-5” and “I Will Always Love You”, but things really intensified for me 13 years ago. My best friend died by suicide, and I was obviously really sad, struggling immensely with the grief. My husband suggested a road trip from our then-home in New York to Dollywood, the theme park she co-owns in Tennessee, to cheer me up. On the way, we visited country music bars, and I sobbed and healed while listening to local singers. When we arrived, I was drawn to a replica of Dolly’s childhood cabin, I peered through its windows, stepped inside her tour bus and visited her chapel. I knew I’d found my Mecca, my religion…
There is so much to love about the strong, brazen, sexy and unapologetic Dolly. She is an intoxicating mix: a megastar with a grounded, working-class sensibility. One of the things I adore most is that throughout her career, people have said, ‘Maybe if you toned down your look, you’d be taken more seriously,’ but she never did. I went to a naval boarding school, where I had to wear a uniform, couldn’t use makeup, and we had to march in unison past the headmaster every Sunday and salute him, so I craved that expression from an early age. I am still obsessed with glamour in adulthood, and I wanted to do something about it. There’s nothing like suddenly losing someone that makes you feel a responsibility to be alive and follow your dreams, so I told my husband on the journey back from Dollywood, ‘I’m going to return to Tennessee and make work dedicated to Dolly.’
Sarah Necia, one of Dolly Parton’s hairstylists, did Alice’s hair for her most recent transformation, which felt ‘monumental’ (Photo: Alice Hawkins)I had the idea to walk around Nashville as Dolly and document it, which felt natural to me as a photographer. Much of the clothing was my own, pieces I’d had for years but hadn’t been brave enough to wear, and I put them on to visit places that embodied Dolly – from in front of her house to a heart-shaped jacuzzi in the Smoky Mountains. One evening, I even got on stage at a bar to sing “Coat of Many Colours”. I can’t hold a note very well, but there were loads of gorgeous cowboys cheering me on. At Dollywood, people wanted to have their picture taken with me, which was quite bizarre.
‘I knew I’d found my Mecca, my religion,’ says Alice Hawkins (Photo: David Lau)Not long after the trip, one of my best friends Paloma Faith, who is in the music industry, was invited to meet Dolly backstage at her O2 show, and I joined her. I didn’t want Dolly to think I was a stalker, but I did want her to see the extent of my love, so I dressed up in a very Dolly-esque yellow suit, with toned-down hair and brought some of my photos along. I couldn’t really speak for the five minutes we were with her, but she was so kind. Her manager emailed me the following day to say that they really appreciated the pictures. I have since been lucky enough to be given some tickets to her shows, and the few times I’ve seen Dolly, she has said, ‘It’s the Dolly girl’, which is pretty surreal.
Alice returned to Tennessee to create work dedicated to Dolly (Photo: David Lau)It’s not just Dolly herself that has added to my life; it’s other fans, too. I’ve found a sisterhood of women who share what I feel sincerely as well. I’ve photographed Dolly impersonators doing their daily tasks in full glam, been on tours with them as their roadie, stayed at their houses for long weekends of bonding, laughing, chatting about Dolly, and so much more.
Alice’s shrine is on display at Somerset House (Photo: Alice Hawkins)Fandom can look different for everyone, and while I have many Dolly items in my house, like hundreds of her records, leaves from her garden, and a cardboard cutout of Dolly advertising her prosecco that a friend got for me from ASDA, it is spiritual. I feel Dolly is with me. I’ve got her, and she’s got me, like when I was having an awful pregnancy. I was very unwell, and so were my unborn babies, and I really felt the massive shift in identity that comes from becoming a mother; therefore, I felt it was important to connect with Dolly. I posed nude with big blonde hair and my humongous bump. It was an escape from the chaos, and it made me feel liberated, more in control of my image, and less fearful about what was ahead. I also turned to her on my wedding day, wearing a Swarovski diamond-embroidered knee-length dress inspired by hers, after not feeling like myself in any other design.
I was asked to celebrate my connection to Dolly in the Somerset House gallery for the Holy Pop! exhibition, which feels so unexpected given how personal my collection is, but also validating. It’s an exhibition on how modern fandom and celebrity obsession have evolved, which is why I once again transformed into her. It felt like the right moment. It’s nice to see fandom being embraced, rather than looked down on. Life’s hard; it’s not all a box of chocolates, so we all need things to help us through it, like music, art, culture, and Dolly Parton.
I know everyone is going to die, and I know Dolly will die one day. It’s a hideous concept, and nobody is ever going to be ready for that. I’ve sworn a pact with a few of my friends who love Dolly that we’re going to go to Nashville as soon as that happens. There’s no one else for me. It’s like that is it, so I can understand the scenes at Graceland for Elvis Presley. I understand that phenomenon. With Dolly, at least she’s lived a really amazing, incredible and long life. She hasn’t stopped, so there’s nothing to feel but pride in her.”
Dear Dolly, Alice Hawkins, Baron Books, is currently on sale for £16
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