The world continues to mourn the death of Dolly Parton, and for wrestling legend Ricky Morton, the loss is particularly personal.

Morton, 69, has shared a heartfelt tribute to Parton, recalling growing up in Antioch, Tennessee, where the future country music icon lived just down the street from his family.

Parton was nearly 11 years older than Morton and spent part of her life living in the area during the 1960s and 1970s. Long before she became one of the most recognisable entertainers in the world, Morton remembered her simply as a kind neighbour who always had time for him and his brothers.

"Growing up in a small house in Antioch, Tennessee with my mom, my dad and my four brothers, we did not have much, but we had each other. And just down the street from us lived a woman who would go on to become one of the most beloved people in the world."

"Dolly Parton."

"I remember seeing Dolly riding her bicycle to and from the store. To the world, she would become a superstar, an icon and a legend. But to us kids in Antioch, she was just Dolly from down the street."

Morton recalled that Parton never made the local children feel as though they were bothering her, something that remained with him throughout his life.

"She was always so kind to little ole Ricky and my brothers. She never made us feel like we were bothering her. She always had a smile and a kind word. Those are the memories that stay with you."

As Morton grew older, he watched Parton become a global superstar through her music, television appearances and wider entertainment career. However, he explained that her fame is not the first thing he thinks about when remembering her.

"As I got older, I watched her become everything the world knows her for. Her music, her generosity, her heart and the way she treated people. But when I think of Dolly, I do not think first about the fame. I think about that little girl from Tennessee who grew up to touch so many lives, including ours."

"It is funny how life works. Sometimes the people who become legends are the same people you remember simply as the kind person from your neighborhood."

Morton concluded his emotional tribute by reflecting on what Parton's death means to Tennessee, her millions of fans around the world and to him personally.

"Today, Tennessee lost a piece of its heart. The world lost an incredible woman. And I lost someone I will always be grateful to have known, even if those memories go all the way back to when I was just a little boy."

"Thank you for being kind to little ole’ Ricky and my brothers."

"We truly lost a queen today."

Morton would eventually become a legend in his own field. Alongside Robert Gibson, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express became one of professional wrestling's most celebrated and influential tag teams.

Morton continues to compete in the ring today, while his son Kerry Morton has followed in his footsteps and become a professional wrestler with the NWA.

Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

While Parton will forever be remembered primarily for her extraordinary music career, she also had some memorable connections to professional wrestling.

One of the most notable came in 1987 when Hulk Hogan appeared on Parton's television variety show, bringing together two of the biggest names in American popular culture at the time.

Ric Flair has also paid tribute following Parton's death. The Nature Boy reflected on her incredible legacy and said he hopes he will be remembered with the same affection when his own life eventually comes to an end.

For Morton, however, the memories go back long before the fame, awards and worldwide recognition. To a young Ricky Morton growing up in Tennessee, she was simply Dolly from down the street.