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Dolly Parton’s ‘A Smoky Mountain Christmas’ Director Henry Winkler Recalls Working With the “Powerful Being”
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Dolly Parton was already a successful country singer and songwriter before she began taking on major television roles. A Smoky Mountain Christmas, made in 1986, was her first television film; Henry Winkler, known for acting as well as directing, directed it.
Parton’s career extended beyond music into film, television and philanthropy, and she was widely known to audiences around the world. Winkler and singer Vince Gill are among the colleagues whose recollections describe their experiences working with her.
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