Photo Credit: Courtesy of Danielle Parton
Dolly Parton’s niece Danielle Parton has been named brand ambassador on behalf of the estate: “I’m proud to be part of that legacy.”
Dolly Parton’s estate has announced that her niece, Danielle Parton, will take on the role as brand ambassador to help support the causes that the legendary artist and philanthropist cared about throughout her life. The 50-year-old Danielle, who works as a commercial pilot, shared the news on Instagram last week.
Danielle said that she would “never try and speak for Dolly” but would be proud to share the stories behind her aunt’s life and that she was “so grateful to help care for a legacy” that means “so much” to her family and Dolly’s fans.
“Like so many of you, losing her has changed something for me. It made me think of the stories, values, and lessons that she left behind and the responsibility that our family has to care for them,” said Danielle.
“I’m not crazy enough to try to fill her shoes. God knows I couldn’t walk in them without killing myself,” she quipped in true Parton fashion. “What I can do is share the woman that I knew. I can tell some of the stories of her, the stories behind the global icon, and support the people carrying forward the work that she cared for and created to make sure what she built continues to bring people joy.”
“She loved us deeply, believed in big dreams, and she always encouraged me to find my way in this world,” Danielle added. “Being a Parton means hard work, big dreams, and never forgetting where you came from. I’m proud to be part of that legacy and to carry it on in my own way,” she wrote in the post’s caption.
The estate described Dolly and Danielle as sharing a “special family bond,” noting that the singer delivered a speech at her niece’s military retirement in 2025, after two decades of service. In addition to her work as a pilot, Danielle is also a moonshine distillery entrepreneur and has been described as sharing her aunt’s “quick wit, strong work ethic, and entrepreneurial spirit, while carving out a path and legacy all her own.”
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