PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Information Center) — A decorated military career, a passion for aviation and a belief in serving something greater than oneself brought Danielle Parton to the stage Thursday as the keynote speaker for the Pigeon Forge Salute to Heroes at Dolly Parton’s Stampede.
Parton, Dolly Parton’s niece, served 20 years in the Air National Guard, retiring in 2025 as a lieutenant colonel. She is also an entrepreneur and the newly appointed brand ambassador for the Dolly Parton Estate.
Her path to becoming a military pilot began with a simple goal: learning to fly.
“I wanted to learn how to fly airplanes, and I didn’t have enough money to do it on the civilian side,” Parton said.
After beginning her career as an airline flight attendant, she frequently asked pilots how they got into aviation. Many recommended military service, specifically the Air National Guard.
“They told me if you’re going to go into the military to learn how to fly, go Guard,” she said. “I didn’t know what Guard was, but I knew they knew a lot more about it than I did. So that’s exactly what I did.”
Parton said the discipline she developed as a pilot shaped the way she approaches challenges in every area of life.
She compared her approach to life to the checklists pilots use before and during flights, emphasizing the importance of preparation, consistency and knowing what comes next when unexpected situations arise.
“Everything’s a checklist, and I kind of organize my whole life off of that mentality,” she said. “If you do everything the right way all the time, when something goes haywire, it’s a lot easier to stay on track because your habit patterns are in that train.”
Parton said she was never particularly frightened while handling emergencies in the air, crediting her training and preparation for helping her remain focused when things went wrong.
“I’ve had a handful of things that went wrong, and I was always more scared when they were over. But I was never scared while it was happening,” she said.
During her remarks, Parton also reflected on the principles of American democracy and the idea that the country can continue to improve.
She referenced the Declaration of Independence and its promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” saying people have the freedom to pursue happiness even though it cannot be guaranteed.
“Nothing’s ever going to be perfect,” she said. “We’re never going to be perfect, but we can be a little better today than we were yesterday, and tiny changes over time create huge progress.”
Parton also offered advice to young people considering military service, saying the benefits extend well beyond a career or job training.
She said parents are often more concerned about military service than young people because of the risks they associate with what they see in the news.
“Yes, there’s risk involved with everything, but you risk your life every time you get in your car and leave your house,” Parton said. “What I gained out of the military is far more valuable than anything I risk in the military.”
As an employer, she said she values the discipline and work ethic veterans bring to the workplace.
“In the military, you will at least learn how to be a good employee,” she said. “You’re going to learn how to follow orders. You’re going to learn how to start a job and complete a job.”
Parton said she hires as many veterans as she can because of their commitment to completing assignments and doing their best, even when the work is difficult.
The conversation also turned to the sacrifices made by service members who never returned home. Parton discussed the recent identification of a La Follette service member whose family lives in Gatlinburg, 80 years after his death.
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She described the return and recognition of fallen service members as a profound reminder of the sacrifices made for the country.
“There’s nothing anybody could say to ever ease that hurt,” Parton said. “That is an extraordinary sacrifice and a donation of a life for a country. It’s remarkable.”
Parton closed with a message about why she chose to serve, saying her commitment was never based on a belief that America was perfect.
“I’ve never done it because I think America is perfect,” she said. “I did it because I think America is worth the service, and I still think so to this day.”
Her message at the Pigeon Forge Salute to Heroes centered on service, perseverance and the responsibility to keep working toward a better country.
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