By Debbie Hall
Stephanie Danderson, one of WhatsUp.Vegas hosts and a longtime Dolly Parton drag queen, brings her own larger-than-life personality and love of the legendary entertainer to the conversation. Through her Dolly-inspired performances, Stephanie celebrates the music, humor, glamour and unmistakable spirit of one of country music’s most beloved icons, while sharing what Parton means to her and why the legend continues to inspire audiences across generations.
Stephanie will host “My-O-My” at Flex, 501 E. Twain Ave., on Thursdays, starting at 9:30 p.m., and will include a tribute to Parton on Thursday, Aug. 27.
I worked at “LaCage” in New Orleans; it was called “Cage and LaCage” in the 1990s, and I impersonated her. I was, of course, bigger than life because I’m 5 feet 9 inches, and I met her twice. I was shocked at just how tiny she was, just everything about her. What you see in the movies and when she’s talking was exactly how she was in person, and she was so encouraging.
I first met her at Dollywood, and I entered a look-alike contest, and she told me that I was like a big version of her.
When I met her again, she remembered me and said I looked a lot like her sister, Stella, who is just beautiful. Dolly actually said to me, “I’m really not that pretty or anything.” My mouth just dropped because Dolly was gorgeous.
She got me through a lot. I’ve always liked country music, and she is one of the few people whose name, or whose music, no matter what mood I was in, would lift me and make me smile.
I had never cried for a celebrity. I have never been this upset because a celebrity died, but something about Dolly dying just struck a nerve. I’m a Southerner; she was a Southerner, and I felt like there was something there, but something even deeper. With her, it was more than just her music because she was spiritual, not religious, and she didn’t judge. I’ve met very few people who were like her, who didn’t judge, and she would say: “That’s up to God,” and she was just always so encouraging. We need to be more like her. She was such a kind person. This is a time that we need to show kindness to everyone. She taught us to be good, always; try to find the good; and if you don’t like something, walk away.
That’s what she’s taught me; it’s all about change, especially if you’re on a stage. You have to change yourself, go with the times, and go with the flow, but you still have to stay true to yourself. Dolly truly helped me find that because she was constantly true to herself. Find who you are. See who your core is and stay true to it.
I’ve met impersonators of hers who have blown my mind. I wish I could look as much like her as they do. There was an impersonator back in the day, Wayne Smith, who is still around, who is a phenomenal Dolly Parton in Hollywood. Another really great person who was like a pretty Dolly was Maxi Lauder. She worked in “LaCage.” She is trans, moved to Las Vegas, and hadn’t done drag in a while. She was an amazing Dolly. Of course, there’s Kenneth Blake, who also worked at “LaCage” and is absolutely wonderful. There’s this one impersonator I want to meet, Kelly O’Brien from England, and she sounds just like her. You cannot tell the difference between their voices, and she looks a lot like her. Her voice gets you. I admire these other people because their love for her is the same love I have for Dolly, and I truly feel like a family member has died.
I’ve always liked Stella Parton, and while all of her family were singers, Stella was a star in her own right, especially back in the 1970s. I also wonder about Frida Parton, because she posted for her fans to pray for Dolly. Rachel Parton wrote a cookbook with Dolly, and she is just absolutely stunning. I want to pick up the phone and call them because I feel like they’re family members, and they’ve been part of my entire life. I grew up watching Dolly on the “Porter Wagner Show,” and fell in love with her, and thought she was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.
I am blessed to be good enough to make a living impersonating her, and I’m very grateful for that. People out there blow my mind with how identical they look to her.
This is probably the last time I’ll ever impersonate her, because she’s gone. I’ve never tried to replace her and never really tried to be her. It was a labor of love, sewing the costumes, doing the hair, trying to get the makeup just right, getting all of her mannerisms down, and she was a pain in the butt to do sometimes because I hate wearing nails. When I worked in New Orleans, I worked on different shows where I had to become Marilyn Monroe, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton.
I think every 80-year-old has that kind of little childish, wicked sense of humor that everyone loves, and it doesn’t offend anyone. We can learn so much from her. I’m so grateful for the lessons even though she’s gone.
I heard she has unreleased music, and some of it will be released soon. Thank you, Dolly.
