Dolly Parton Saved a Child Actor From Being Hit by an Oncoming Car

published 11 December 20

Marie Claire cover star Dolly Parton stopped child actor Talia Hill from being hit by a car while filming Netflix movie Christmas on the Square.
Hill recalled the incident on Inside Edition, saying she found herself in the direct path of a car before Parton grabbed her and pulled her to safety.
"I was in shock. She hugged me and shook me and said, 'I saved your life!'" Hill said.

Who couldn't use a heartwarming story about literal real life angel Dolly Parton being an literal real life angel right about now? Well, as if saving our figurative lives by providing a constant source of joy and hope in humanity wasn't enough, Parton is now in the business of saving actual lives—or more specifically, the life of 9-year-old child actor Talia Hill.

Hill, who acted in Parton's Netflix holiday movie Christmas on the Square, recalled her encounter with her guardian angel while appearing on Inside Edition, as People reports. Hill was interviewed alongside her two older siblings, Tristan and Tyson, who also had roles in the film.

Talia recalled heading to get a hot chocolate during a break from filming before producers called cast members back to their places. While making her way back to her mark, Talia found herself in the direct path of a car—but luckily, someone grabbed her and pulled her back to safety. "I looked up and it was Dolly Parton," she said. "I was like, surprised, I was like [gasp]."

"And she's like, 'Well, I am an angel, you know,'" Talia continued. "Cause she plays an angel in the movie. And I was in shock. She hugged me and shook me and said, 'I saved your life!'"

One more sweet recollection from Talia? "When Dolly walked in she smelled like heaven." Once more: an angel!

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.