Meet Dolly Parton’s Niece, A Decorated Military Veteran Who Built An Extraordinary Life
Dolly Parton’s family has produced some remarkable stories, and one of them belongs to her niece, Danielle Parton.
While Dolly became one of the most famous entertainers in the world, Danielle followed a very different path. She became a military pilot, combat veteran and businesswoman, while remaining closely connected to her famous aunt.
@flywithaopa Danielle Parton, niece of country music legend Dolly Parton, started her aviation career flying C-130s and C-5s overseas for the Air National Guard and now works as an airline pilot. Her side hustle is her moonshine distillery, Shine Girl, in Sevierville, Tennessee. Watch the full video on our Youtube channel – link in bio! #FlywithAOPA #AOPA #ForYouPage #ForYou #fyp #creatorinsights #Aviation #Parton #Pilot #NationalGuard #C5 #C130 #moonshine ♬ original sound – FlywithAOPA
Danielle Parton Chose A Life In The Air
Danielle is the daughter of Bobby Parton, one of Dolly’s younger brothers.
She graduated from Belmont University in Nashville in 1998 with a degree in Business Administration.
But a traditional office career was never what Danielle wanted.
She had a passion for aviation and eventually became a flight attendant with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines before deciding to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot.
That decision eventually led her into the military.
She Became A Military Pilot
Danielle joined the Air National Guard, serving with the 118th Wing in Nashville, the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville and the 164th Airlift Wing in Memphis.
She eventually became an aircraft commander in 2012 and deployed overseas several times.
Her military career included flying aircraft such as the C-130 and C-5 Galaxy.
She also received the Combat Action Medal and Air Medal for her service.
AOPA reported in 2025 that Danielle held type ratings for aircraft including the C-130 and Airbus A320 family and had built a career around her passion for aviation.
Dolly Was There For Her Retirement
Danielle retired from the Air National Guard in 2025 after serving as Chief of Public Affairs for the 118th Wing.
And there was a particularly special person there to celebrate the occasion.
Dolly Parton attended her niece’s retirement ceremony.
The moment offered a glimpse into the close relationship between the famous singer and her niece.
Although they followed completely different career paths, Dolly remained an important influence in Danielle’s life.
Danielle Remembers Dolly As More Than Her Famous Aunt
Following Dolly’s death, Danielle shared an emotional video message through her business, Shine Girl.
She thanked the thousands of people who had reached out with condolences and said the world would never be the same without her aunt.
Danielle explained that she had been fortunate enough to share 50 of Dolly’s 80 years with her.
But she didn’t describe Dolly simply as her famous aunt.
She called her “my friend, my aunt, my confidant, my mentor.”
Dolly’s Advice Stayed With Her
Danielle also shared one piece of advice Dolly gave her that she will carry for the rest of her life.
Dolly once told her:
“If you have the chance to grab one minute of happiness in this world, you take it.”
Danielle said Dolly encouraged her to choose what felt right for herself, even when other people disagreed.
That advice became especially meaningful when Danielle faced an important business decision.
She ultimately turned down a deal worth millions because something about it did not feel right.
Dolly was the person who supported her decision.
“She would tell me to get my ‘rear in gear, and get on with it,’” Danielle recalled.
“Go Out There And Be Good To One Another”
Danielle believes her aunt would not want her family and fans to spend their lives consumed by grief.
Instead, she believes Dolly would want people to keep moving forward and treat each other with kindness.
At the end of her emotional message, Danielle offered a simple reminder:
“Go out there and be good to one another.”
It is a message that feels especially fitting for Dolly’s legacy.
Dolly Parton spent her life helping others, supporting children, military families and countless communities through her philanthropy.
Now, her niece is carrying forward some of the lessons Dolly taught her.
Dolly may have been a global superstar, but to Danielle, she was simply Aunt Dolly — a friend, mentor and source of lifelong wisdom.
