Fans and celebrities around the world have been paying tribute to Dolly Parton following her death. Known as the “Queen of Country,” Parton was adored for her music, cultural influence, and philanthropy.
What fans in San Luis Obispo may not know, however, is how much Alex Madonna, founder of the iconic Madonna Inn, adored her. Cheri Humphrey, the hotel’s retail manager and a close friend of the Madonna family, witnessed the friendship between Parton and Madonna.
“Mrs. Madonna came in and introduced herself, and then she introduced Mr. Madonna. Mr. Madonna was a little bit shy. He was a very big fan of Dolly,” Humphrey said. “Once Mr. Madonna was introduced to Dolly, no one could get a word in, edge-wise. They would joke, and they just had a lot of fun, and anyway, she just loved Madonna Inn.”
Parton frequently dined at the hotel, often with friends and family, and stayed in several of its ornate suites.
“She stayed in the Austrian Suite, which is a beautiful suite,” Humphrey said. “She stayed in Carin, which is all done in pink. And this was way before Dollywood, so I mean Madonna Inn was made for Dolly. With all of our glitter and all of our cherubs, I think she felt very at home here.”
The Gold Rush Steak House, Madonna Inn’s eccentric restaurant, is honoring Parton’s legacy and longtime loyalty to the inn. The tribute is particularly important to longtime fans, including assistant restaurant manager Matthew Dodds.
“Well, when we found out about her unfortunate passing, we wanted to show our admiration and our love for Dolly,” Dodds said. “So we placed a photo of her at her favorite booth, and we lit a candle, and then that just kind of took off. And once social media got a hold of that, it brought so many guests in. Just the outpouring love and affection for Dolly has been truly tremendous.”
The restaurant also announced that its September Steak House Special is dedicated to the country star, whom it called a “very special friend of the Madonna Inn.” Dolly’s Dish is inspired by Parton’s go-to order — a filet with garlic bread — with shrimp scampi added as a twist.
Members of the Madonna family, employees, and fans who interacted with Parton described her as humble and kind.
“She was just so wholesome, and good, and giving,” said Humphrey. “She’s a lot like the Madonna family. They’re so wholesome and giving to the community and people that are in need, so we are going to miss her terribly.”
For more information about Dolly’s Dish and the dedication at the Gold Booth, visit the Madonna Inn on Instagram at @madonnainn1958.