Dolly Parton plays an angel in her new Netflix holiday special Christmas on the Square, but nine-year-old Talia Hill says the “Jolene” singer is her real life guardian angel.
Speaking to Inside Edition recently about the movie, Talia shared a story about how Parton pulled her out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.
“We were on set, and I was at the hot chocolate station, and they said go back to your beginning positions,” the young actress explained. “There was a vehicle moving and I was walking. And then somebody grabbed me and pulled me back.”
Talia said she looked up to see who saved her and gasped when she realized “it was Dolly Parton!”
The young actress says she was left “in shock” over how quickly everything happened.
“[Dolly] hugged me and shook me and said, ‘I saved your life.’ And my mom was crying, like, ‘Yes you did, Dolly Parton, yes you did,'” she continued.
When the young star tried to thank Parton for her quick thinking, the country legend told her, “Well, I am an angel, you know” — a reference to the character she plays in the movie.
Talia added that working with Parton was an incredibly fun experience, detailing that the singer “smelled like heaven” whenever she walked into the room and that she would make everyone feel welcome.
“She greeted everyone even if you were a trashcan person,” Talia recalled. “It was such a great feeling.”
Christmas on the Square is streaming on Netflix now.