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8-year-old wasn't looking thrilled to see Dolly Parton in person - but when she spotted him, he absolutely 'lost it'

The boy and his family were visiting Dollywood when he spotted the singer and he couldn't believe 'she was real.'
PUBLISHED MAR 27, 2025
(L) A close-up photo of singer and actress Dolly Parton. (R) A child screaming out of excitement while looking up at something. Representative Cover Image Source: Instagram | @dollyparton; Pexels | Alex P
(L) A close-up photo of singer and actress Dolly Parton. (R) A child screaming out of excitement while looking up at something. Representative Cover Image Source: Instagram | @dollyparton; Pexels | Alex P

It can be really exciting for kids and adults alike to see someone they really admire. People might have all kinds of reactions to that, but an 8-year-old's reaction to seeing Dolly Parton at Dollywood, an amusement park co-owned by the singer, has got the internet's stamp of approval. The kid's dad, Jordan Ramey and his stepmom, April Ramey, who go by @rameyfamily.4 on TikTok, took to the platform to share the kid's star-struck reaction to seeing Parton in person.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton)


 

People were standing and cheering from either side of the path as the star passed by in her carriage, waving at everyone. The moment Ramey's kid spotted her, he screamed, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Everyone was waving pink pompoms as the carriage passed, but perhaps the little boy was waving at her the hardest. The actress spotted the excited kid and pointed at him. He was even more excited after getting some attention from Parton and screamed even louder. She couldn't help but point at him again and chuckle at his reaction. The kid held his head and screamed at the top of his lungs as Parton continued to look thoroughly entertained by his reaction as she passed by.

"What happened?" the boy's dad asked him and he seemed as if he was still not over the shock of seeing the singer in person and getting noticed by her. "Dolly!" he exclaimed, as his parents chuckled. The video received more than 6 million views and over 1.4 million likes. "I was laughing and shocked at the way he was reacting. The whole time we were standing there, he didn’t act that excited at all. But the moment he laid eyes on her and she acknowledged him, he lost it. He’s always seen her pictures all over the DreamMore [Resort] and I think when he saw her in real life, he realized, 'WOW, she’s real!'" the dad told PEOPLE. "Owen has been going to Dollywood since he was 3 years old. He is crazy about Dollywood! He loves everything about it. He’s fearless when it comes to riding roller coasters. He also loves staying at the DreamMore. That’s where his admiration comes from."

People took to the comments section of the video to express how the boy's reaction was the only spot on one to seeing Dolly Parton in person. @user456708g wrote, "Mind you, this is the only appropriate reaction to seeing Ms. Parton 10 feet away from you." @unaupologetic commented, "That’s the woman that gave America’s children books every month for the first 5 years of their life…That is an appropriate reaction."

Image Source: TikTok | @barbie
Image Source: TikTok | @barbie

Image Source: TikTok | @duke0449
Image Source: TikTok | @duke0449

@desitheartist remarked, "I feel like he is the only one responding appropriately. Is this not how you act seeing a goddess in the flesh?" @hey6902 shared, "My 8-year-old would've reacted the same way. Girl has been obsessed since she was 5. I brought her to Dollywood and she cried because she thought Dolly had to actually build the park herself and it was too much." @legendofcoleson94 expressed, "Can I just say a huge thank you to you both for being amazing parents and supporting him crashing out over Dolly? Because this was me when I first saw Gaga. SWEAR IT."


@rameyfamily.4 Please Watch! Our 8 year old seeing @Dolly Parton for the first time! #passholderday #dollywood #openingday #dollyparton #superfan@Toni Michelle ♬ original sound - Jordan April Ramey

 

You can follow Jordan April Ramey (@rameyfamily.4) on TikTok for more family-related content.

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