Dolly for President

The journey begins in the Smoky Mountains, the place where it all began for Dolly Parton. Ilse and Frank talk to people in her hometown of Sevierville. They also visit the amusement park Dollywood.

Ilse DeLange and Frank Evenblij wake up in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. They go in search of Dolly Parton's birthplace, a two-room house where the Parton family lived with eleven brothers and sisters. Dolly bought the house back from the later owner. An address of the house or a route is unknown. They visit the cemetery where Dolly's parents and many deceased family members are buried. Including Dolly's brother, who died four months after his birth. And they visit Hazzard Fest, a festival around the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard from the 80s, where the culture and residents of this region are clearly visible.

In Sevierville, Ilse and Frank visit the moonshine distillery of Danielle Parton, Dolly Parton's cousin. Moonshine is a strong drink that can be compared to whiskey. In Knoxville, Ilse and Frank talk to students from the University of Tennessee; they are taking the course "Dolly Parton's America". In the iconic Emporium Sound Studios, where Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton recorded their music, the duo visits the man who gave Ilse her first record deal.

The church is important in Nashville; there is one on almost every street corner. Frank and Ilse attend a church service. Many jokes are made about Dolly Parton's appearance, especially by Dolly herself, because she doesn't care what others think. This makes her a figurehead for many, including transgender Vancie Vega. She earns her living as a Dolly Parton impersonator and she is a household name in Nashville. At a Native American festival, Ilse and Frank speak with singer-songwriter and Grammy Award winner Bill Miller and his daughter.