08/26/2026
Heaven’s to Betsy, starring Dolly Parton, shot its pilot at Disney World in Florida in 1994. Gail Berman played a key role in bringing this project together and introduced me to Dolly.
There she was, smaller than I had imagined, wearing a yellow gingham dress, legs elegantly crossed. But what struck me most wasn’t the dress or her famous blonde hair—it was her skin. Glowing, milky white, more porcelain than porcelain itself. I sat there, unable to speak, overwhelmed by her presence.
Dolly flew me to Nashville. The wigs—lined up perfectly, all blonde, ranging from short to long. The shoes—rows of six-inch heels neatly arranged on shelves.
We kept walking until we reached a massive metal barn. Inside, I nearly keeled over. There, carefully stored and preserved, was everything that had ever been designed for her, dating back to when she was a teenager.
I carried the torch and designed for Dolly for the next 2-3 years, including the 10-year Anniversary of Dollywood!
Her birthday dress was needed in three days. Three days! I chose a gorgeous French gold lace with loops in the design, carefully placing those openings along the upper arm where the soft pastel ink of her tattoos peeked through ever so subtly.
Dolly was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and she wanted me to design her outfit! The result was a spectacular blue suede mini dress, hand-beaded by the incredible Mina Cho, with custom-made fringe and intricate details. And when Dolly put it on, she loved it!
Today I learned of Dolly’s passing, almost 30 years since I made that gold lace birthday dress. That tiny woman had the voice of an angel and a giving heart that did not discriminate. She meant so much to me, and I was honored to have had those glorious years creating for her.
