Located in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood was the perfect setting for this young man and his family to meet his favorite idol who “he wishes to marry.” Sixty-nine-year-old Dolly and Gage met at her restaurant in the theme park for several duets, along with a sing-along with everyone in the restaurant.
“There are truly no words to explain how much it meant to Gage, myself and my family for him to get to meet Dolly in person,” Gage’s mother, Lynnae Blackwell, told TODAY.com. She added, “Gage loves country music and for him to get to sit with and sing with someone he idolises like Dolly was just heartwarming.”
According to the March 23rd Dolly Parton Newsletter for fans, one of her activities is a breakfast “with children facing serious illnesses and their families” — which involved Gage Blackwell and his parents. Numerous children that visit are connected with the Make A Wish Foundation and similar organizations.
Dolly herself does not publicize the event, but parents release their own videos or photos. When Gage Blackwell visited, his family shared videos with his Facebook fan page so it could go public. Knoxville, Tennessee television also showcased Gage on the television station WBIR to cover 30 years of enjoyment between Dolly Parton and her visiting children.
