Dolly Parton saves nine-year-old actor’s life on set of new Christmas film

A nine-year-old actor has recalled the time that Dolly Parton saved her life while on the set of Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square.

Speaking to Inside Edition, Talia Hill revealed that during her time filming Parton’s Christmas special the country singer pulled her out of the way of an oncoming vehicle.

“We were on set, and I was at the hot chocolate station, and they said ‘Go back to your beginning positions,’” the child actor explained. “So, there is a vehicle moving, and I was walking, and somebody grabbed me and pulled me back — and it was Dolly Parton.”

Hill said Parton told her, “Well, I am an angel, you know,” which references her role in Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square.

“I was in shock, she hugged me and shook me and said, ‘I saved your life!’” Hill said. “And my mom’s going, ‘Yes, you did, Dolly Parton. Yes, you did!’”

Last month, it was revealed Dolly Parton played a key role in funding the research that aided the development of a major vaccine for the coronavirus.

A recent article in the New England Journal Of Medicine reveals that the country icon has dished out $1 million of her own money to aid research by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center since the start of the pandemic.

The Vanderbilt research has subsequently played a key role in the development of a vaccine from U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna, which was announced on November 16.

Meanwhile, Dolly Parton has said that she hopes Beyoncé might one day cover her hit single ‘Jolene’.

Speaking in a new interview, the country music legend discussed the many times the 1973 song has been covered by other artists, but added that she’s still hopeful a major artist will record their own take and enjoy a “really big hit” with it.