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Dolly parton impersonator to appear at Children Advocacy fundraiser

This year’s Coffee County Children Advocacy Center’s annual Party with a Purpose fundraiser will feature Dolly Parton impersonator Natasha Neely Henry. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at The Atlantic in Tullahoma.

“I’m looking forward to being there for this very special night and this important event,” Henry said. “I glad they invited Dolly to be a part of it.”

Based out of Nashville, Henry has been a Dolly impersonator for 12 years. Whether it’s to mingle with guests or perform Dolly Parton hits, she brings the magic.

“Once I put the costume and the heels on, it’s easy for me to get in the Dolly mindset and personality,” Henry said. “I’m a Sothern girl like Dolly, so it’s really not too far from how I am all the time.”

While working at Dollywood in 2007, Henry would often be asked if she were related to Parton. Later on, booking agency would pitch the idea to work as a Dolly Impersonator for corporate events.

“So I became their Dolly Impersonator,” Henry said. “I didn’t do it very often, like five times a year, back when I started.”

Now it is a booming business, with Henry appearing at events two to five times a week.

It might be unusual to meet a person who makes a living impersonating you, but when Henry had the opportunity to talk with the real Dolly Parton at a music studio, the Country music icon was welcoming.

“At the end of the session,” Henry recalled, “(Dolly) said, ‘Good luck with your career, whether it’s being you or being me.’ ”

Children Advocacy Executive Director Deborah Allen said that center helps advocate for children who are suspected victims of child abuse, physical or sexual.

“All of our services are completely free,” Allen said. “We do medical exams with our kids twice a month. We are completely grant and community funded. That’s why it’s important to have this fundraiser once a year.”

Board president Ivy Petty said that to provide services to a single child it cost on average $1,000, and that as of last month there were over 330 referrals this year.

“A lot of people don’t want to talk about child abuse because it is nasty, but there is such a need in Coffee County,” Petty said.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with our silent auction and dinner and live auction starting at 6 p.m. The event will include a Dolly Parton impersonator, great food, beer from Common John Brewing Company and silent and live auctions. A DJ will also be on hand to get you in the spirit. Live auction items include: pizza for a year from J & G, signed Jack Daniels Barrel, guided fishing tour with Capt. Jake Davis, Pilgrimage Festival tickets, Bonnaroo tickets, fire pit donated by L & H, and more.

Call 931-723-888 for tickets.

Henry will return to The Caverns July 21 with her Dolly Tribute Show that feature’s Parton’s niece singing backup. The show is a full 60-minue tribute with songs and stories about her life and song.