‘Amazing Quilter’ shares personal memories of Dolly Parton
Many Branson area entertainers and music lovers were among those shocked and saddened by the recent death of Dolly Parton, but for one Branson woman, the loss was even more personal because Dolly’s encouragement made such a big impact on her life.
Diane Rose, the totally-blind “Amazing Quilter” who moved to Branson last year, recently shared some memories of her experiences with the iconic entertainer, starting when Rose was a teenager and continuing through her years as a journalist in Nashville, the eventual total loss of her eyesight, and her determination to learn quilting in spite of blindness.
The journey started in 1972, when Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner performed at a local high school in Texas and Rose, then age 13, was privileged to go backstage after the concert. Both artists took time to chat and sign her autograph book, planting the seeds of her dream to move to Nashville. Five years later, she was again able to interact with Parton before a concert in Texas, and this time, told the singer she was actually headed to Nashville.
Dolly’s response was, “Well, you come right on, young lady! You’ll love Nashville and the Grand Ol’ Opry!” Diane, who at the time still had partial eyesight, was allowed to stand in the stage wings at that concert; she recalls Dolly’s tall, poofy hairdo, high heels and the performances of “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Before they parted that evening, Dolly reminded Diane, “If you have a dream, believe in it, hold onto it, step out on it, and it will happen. That’s what faith is about.” Just a short time later, sure enough, Rose moved to Nashville where she was invited backstage at the Grand Ol’ Opry for her journalistic duties by none other than Roy Acuff. There, Dolly Parton spied her and greeted her with, “Diane! Welcome to the Grand Ol’ Opry! Welcome home!”
Both entertainers had somehow learned it was Rose’s birthday and introduced her on stage, the start of an ongoing relationship of encouragement by the Opry and the entertainment community during Diane’s years as a journalist and her eventual loss of sight, with Parton always greeting her when their paths crossed. Rose even recalls having to change clothes on Parton’s bus once while covering an event at a fair where the singer was performing.
Several years later, after Diane Rose amazed many people by learning to quilt, she was featured on Nashville’s “Talk of the Town” television show. During the interview, a pink quilt with a butterfly pattern caught the eye of Dolly’s sister Stella, who reached out to buy the quilt for Dolly’s Christmas gift that year.
There were other meetings over the years, including Rose’s trip to the Dollywood grand opening, and Dolly always greeted her graciously. “She never forgot anyone,” said Rose. For one special event, Dolly’s seamstress even made a rose-patterned satin gown for Diane to wear. When an accident took the rest of Diane’s eyesight in 1984, the Nashville country music community including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and many others, sent so many flowers that she had to be moved to a bigger hospital room!
Following the news of Dolly’s death, Rose asked a helper to find the records of the quilt sale to Stella among the many volumes of photos and details of quilts sold, given away, or added to her personal keepsakes over the years. After her helper, Anne, located the sale number, Rose pulled out the book and, amazingly, opened it to exactly the right picture on the correct page! “Quite the blind story!” she laughs.
Rose says she will always remember some of the special moments and comments, including something Dolly, Loretta and Minnie Pearl all told her at separate times: “Wherever you have to go, if you’re going to be out in public, look the best you can; smile; and don’t look like an old ragamuffin!” She also cherishes a comment by Parton during an encounter at Dollywood, likely around 1987, when the singer told her, “Well, you made your dream come true, and I’m proud of you and you’re going to go far!” Rose truly believes that encouragement has helped her through some difficult times and even as she made the decision to move to Branson, where she hopes to continue with additional speaking engagements and craft show opportunities.
“Dolly was such a loving, God-fearing, honorable person, inside and out,” said Rose. “She really made a difference in so many lives, and now she’s in the arms of Jesus!”
(Learn more about The Amazing Quilter via Facebook or at https://theamazingquilter.com.)
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