Former Dollywood performer Malcom Link shares the story behind the song written for Dolly Parton’s Dollywood anniversary celebration
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — After Newstalk 98.7 WOKI recently played the song Little Butterfly on the air, listeners immediately wanted to know where they could hear the Dolly Parton tribute again.
The song’s writer and performer, Malcom Link, joined the station to tell the story behind the heartfelt tribute, which was created for Dollywood’s 25th Anniversary celebration and presented to Dolly Parton as a gift from the Dollywood family.
Link, who previously worked and performed at Dollywood, wrote Little Butterfly as a tribute to Parton’s influence on the region, the theme park she built in Sevier County, and the thousands of employees and guests touched by her work over the years.
The song was part of Dollywood’s recognition of Parton during the park’s silver anniversary celebration, marking 25 years since the attraction opened under the Dollywood name in 1986. The tribute highlighted Parton’s deep connection to East Tennessee and the lasting impact she has had through entertainment, tourism, education, and philanthropy.
During his Newstalk 98.7 WOKI appearance, Link explained how the song came together and how it eventually became part of the special anniversary celebration honoring Parton. The emotional lyrics and melody resonated with listeners, many of whom contacted the station asking how they could hear the performance again.
For those who missed the interview or the song’s broadcast, Little Butterfly is available online.
Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG59XsyfKxE
Dolly Parton’s influence on East Tennessee extends far beyond music. Through Dollywood, the Dollywood Foundation, and programs such as the Imagination Library, Parton has become one of the region’s most celebrated ambassadors. Songs like Little Butterfly serve as reminders of the personal connections many East Tennesseans have with the country music icon.
For longtime Dollywood fans, former employees, and Dolly Parton admirers, the song offers a unique musical tribute created by someone who experienced the Dollywood story firsthand.
