08/27/2026
This morning I received an email from my former assistant, the photographer John Marshall, living in Amsterdam. He writes:
"We were shooting the cast of STEEL MAGNOLIAS for Life, on a set we built on a sound stage in Hollywood. I’m sure you remember this, but I tripped over a light stand and fell to the floor. Dolly came over to me immediately and said, ”DARLIN’ ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” She was SO sweet, and such a kind person."
I remember this exactly as John reports it. I described the incident a letter I sent to the New York Times yesterday, adding that close up, Dolly Parton was every good thing she seemed to be at a distance.
(c) 2026 rob lewine