The first time she heard Houston's version of her song, she had to pull over to avoid crashing her car because she was so overwhelmed.
"I was shot so full of adrenaline and energy, I had to pull off, because I was afraid that I would wreck, so I pulled over quick as I could to listen to that whole song," Parton told Oprah Winfrey in a 2020 interview. "I could not believe how she did that. I mean, how beautiful it was that my little song had turned into that, so that was a major, major thing."
Parton purchased the 6,317-square-foot Mission-style complex in Nashville in February 1997, according to property records. David Ewing, a longtime Nashville historian, told The Washington Post that Parton's investment came when many recording artists did not look toward the Sevier Park neighborhood, now known as 12 South, to set up their businesses.
"We're just hearing now, because of the Black Lives Matter movement, how down for the cause Dolly has always been - even when others in the music industry weren't," Ewing said. "Dolly Parton could have built and bought any piece of property in Nashville. But you would have to have gone out of your way to buy in the 12 South neighborhood, because no Realtor would have shown Dolly that lot to buy."
At the time, the neighborhood was "African American funeral homes, businesses and churches," Ewing said. Now, 12 South is one of the hottest neighborhoods in Nashville, he said.
"But it really kind of all began to be put on the map when Dolly quietly invested in the area," Ewing said.
Dolly Parton - Soul Sister. Who'd ever thunk it? Bless you Dolly for your lifetime of great works for all Americans.
First, she brought education and opportunity to Sevierville, where thousands are now employed, creating educational opportunities and scholarships, and kicked off massive investments in what was a very poor area.
12 South is a booming area! 10-15 years ago you could buy a house there for well under $100,000 No more. I started eating in the area when Albert's, a soul food restaurant, was the only restaurant in the neighborhood. My new favorite place to eat the past several years in the 12 South area is called Edley's. I take one of my dogs there for lunch on their outdoor deck. They supply water bowls for fur kids too. He likes their fish platter a lot :-)