Iconic country singer Dolly Parton, who had ties to Santa Barbara County, died in Nashville on Tuesday at age 80, her family announced.
While the Grammy-winning artist was a Tennessee native, Parton had various local ties.
One of those ties involved a Solvang property, touted as Parton’s former “weekend retreat,” which hit the housing market in April for nearly $2 million.
The three-unit, multi-family home at 561 Alisal Road is a short walk from downtown and features Parton’s touches throughout the property.
A stained-glass window at the top of the front door reads “Dolly” with her signature butterfly symbol next to it, and items she once owned are still reportedly inside the house.
Property owner and Parton fan Cris Lapp put the property up for sale, hoping another fan would buy it.
He said he was in shock Tuesday after finding out about Parton’s death.
“I loved that she was a uniting force between the left and right,” Lapp told Noozhawk on Tuesday. “She was one of the greatest assets that America had.”
When Lapp purchased the house, he said he found items he believed belonged to Parton, including western-themed home furnishings.
Now, he isn’t sure what he is going to do with them, he told Noozhawk.
“I feel so torn,” he said. “I am just trying to hang in there and figure out what’s going to go on today.”
He said he plans to place a memorial at the property soon to honor Parton.
For the past decade, Parton’s early literacy program, the Dolly Imagination Library, has operated locally through United Way of Santa Barbara County, mailing free books to children through age 5.
The program has served 1,750 local children, according to United Way.
Parton last performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl about 10 years ago during her Pure & Simple Tour.
Her tour also took her to Paso Robles, where Noozhawk contributor Gary Lambert attended and reviewed a show. He wrote about her “stellar performance” and was left in awe of Parton’s musical talent and achievements, including being the most honored female country performer of all time.
Parton’s cause of death was not revealed in the announcement made by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on Tuesday.
A small and private service will be held for Parton’s immediate family, according to an online statement. The family also asks for donations to be made to the Dolly Imagination Library.
