Danica McKellar Cries Through Touching Tribute to Her Movie Co-Star, Dolly Parton

The news of Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, sent shockwaves through Nashville, Hollywood, and around the world, with tributes pouring in from fans and famous friends. But one star taking the legend’s passing particularly hard is Danica McKellar, who co-starred with Parton in the 2019 Hallmark movie “Christmas at Dollywood.”

McKellar rose to fame on the 90s sitcom “The Wonder Years” and competed on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2014 as she was beginning her career as a rom-com actress on Hallmark Channel and, since 2021, on Great American Family. Upon hearing of Parton’s death, she filmed and posted a video of herself crying and remembering how meaningful it was to work with the entertainment legend, whom she called “the very best of the very best.”

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Danica McKellar Got to Meet Dolly Parton Before Their Movie, Teaming Up on Literacy Initiative

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With tears in her eyes as she spoke from the set of a Christmas movie she’s currently filming, McKellar told her fans, “Just want to offer my condolences to everyone who loved Dolly Parton. I’m one of those people.”

Recalling filming “Christmas at Dollywood” with Parton, McKellar said, “She was everything I always hoped she would be. Before I did that movie, I actually had the opportunity to work with her of one of my math books, ‘Goodnight Numbers,’ was part of her Imagination Library, which is where we give them to a bunch of kids, underprivileged kids, anybody who signs up for Imagination Library. Actually, it’s an incredible program.”

A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA with a degree in Mathematics, McKellar has written 12 children’s books about the magic of math, including the 2017 picture book “Goodnight Numbers.” Parton, in addition to her entertainment legacy, was a passionate literacy advocate and founded the Imagination Library to send free children’s books to millions of families in need.

Choking back tears as she encouraged people to look up Imagination Library, McKellar added that she got to “narrate the documentary called ‘The Library That Dolly Built’ and that was when I first met her. She surprised me during the recording. I’ll never forget it.”

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Danica McKellar Recalls Her Last Hug With Dolly Parton

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“She was just incredible,” McKellar continued. “The thing about Dolly Parton is that, yes she was talented, yes she’s an icon, yes all those things. But she made you feel so good. She made everybody feel so great themselves, no matter what, no matter who you were. She knew exactly the right thing to say. And that’s something that I’m hoping that I can — I’ve always thought, every since I met her and experienced it — I was like, ‘I want to do that, I want to learn that.’ I mean, if everybody did that, we’d be a much different world.”

“Dolly Parton, you’re incredible,” McKellar said, with her voice shaking. “You did everything for everybody time. Your legacy is unmatched. And I’m so grateful that I got to know you for a short time.”

McKellar encouraged fans to go see Parton’s new musical, noting that the last time she saw the singer-songwriter a year earlier in August 2025, was at the show’s premiere in Nashville. She recalled getting to give Parton a hug, noting, “That was the last time.”

“Dolly, I love you,” McKellar quietly concluded. “Thank you for everything.”

Jason Cermak, who was in the supporting cast of “Christmas at Dollywood,” wrote in the comment section, “Crying with you Danica. The news hit me hard and the first person I thought of was you. I know how special she was to you. Feel so blessed to have experienced what being in her presence was like. 😭🦋”

“Christmas at Dollywood” is available to stream via Hallmark+.