# Dolly Parton’s ‘A Smoky Mountain Christmas’ Director Henry Winkler Recalls Working With the “Powerful Being”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/dolly-partons-a-smoky-mountain-christmas-director-henry-winkler-recalls-working-with-the-powerful-being/
- Published: 2026-11-09T16:35:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T17:39:31+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/dolly-partons-a-smoky-mountain-christmas-director-henry-winkler-recalls-working-with-the-powerful-being/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Henry Winkler remembered directing Dolly Parton in her first TV movie.
- A discarded sheet of her music became a set souvenir.
- Tributes have highlighted her talent and generosity.

## Summary

Director Henry Winkler has recalled working with Dolly Parton on her first television film, *A Smoky Mountain Christmas*, saying she was an extraordinary presence on set. His story offers a glimpse of Parton’s impact on colleagues and adds to tributes shared after her death.

Winkler told a Rhode Island Comic Con panel that he initially refused a cast member’s request to take a souvenir from the set. A boom operator suggested the actor could keep a crumpled sheet of music Parton had thrown away. Parton died aged 80 after a brief battle with cancer; the article also notes that Vince Gill praised her talent, generosity and kindness.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.