There are few things more magical than a child’s unfiltered joy — especially when it involves a music legend, a parade, and a pom-pom-waving moment that charmed the internet.
For one family, a trip to Dollywood became unforgettable thanks to an 8-year-old’s ecstatic reaction to spotting the park’s iconic co-owner: Dolly Parton. Jordan Ramey and his family arrived at the Pigeon Forge theme park for its annual passholder preview day, eager to kick off the season.
Owen Ramey’s reaction to seeing Dolly Parton. Photo by Jordan Ramey
As the parade began, Jordan stood with his son, Owen, near a bridge, camera in hand. While Jordan FaceTimed his mother to share the excitement, his wife, April, started recording. What followed was a scene of pure, pint-sized euphoria. “Oh my God, oh my God!” Owen shrieked, clutching a pink pom-pom as Parton’s flower-covered carriage rolled into view.
The boy’s shouts caught the attention of the country star herself, who locked eyes with Owen and pointed at him in delight. “I was laughing and shocked at the way he was reacting,” Jordan said. “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!’”
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!’”
For Owen, the encounter was years in the making. “Owen has been going to Dollywood since he was 3 years old,” Jordan said. “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.”
Owen Ramey’s reaction to seeing Dolly Parton. Photo by Jordan Ramey
Jordan later shared the video on TikTok, captioning it, “Please Watch! Our 8 year old seeing @Dolly Parton for the first time!” While he expected some laughs, he never anticipated millions of views. “He had always wanted to go viral, and it finally happened,” Jordan said, pointing out Owen’s awe at the video’s success. The clip’s comment section became a hub of humor and heartwarming replies, with brands like Spotify joking, “Honestly, everyone should be matching his energy — it’s DOLLY PARTON!!!” Ulta Beauty quipped, “The only valid reaction tbh,” while Visa added, “This is the only appropriate reaction 😭.”
Even Barbie chimed in: “Same buddy…… same.”
“All of the comments seemed to be positive,” Jordan said. “My favorite comments are the sarcastic ones saying, ‘At least he remained calm.’ That one is hilarious. I also liked seeing all the verified accounts that commented on the video. I thought that was really neat.”
Though Parton hasn’t yet reached out, the family remains hopeful. In the meantime, Jordan has advice for parents: “Let your kids enjoy being a kid and always have your camera ready to capture unexpected moments!”
