Allie Colleen is facing backlash over her Instagram tribute to Dolly Parton following the country legend’s death.
The 30-year-old singer-songwriter, daughter of Garth Brooks, 64, took to Instagram on Tuesday to mourn Parton while reflecting on her own fear of someday losing her famous father. Her lengthy post drew both criticism and support from followers, sparking a heated exchange in the comments section.
“My greatest fear in life is the day my Dad loses his life and I have to see the world mourn a man they never knew the way I knew him,” Colleen began her Instagram post.
“To the personal family and friends of Mrs. Dolly you have all my love and condolences today and forever going forward,” she continued. “What a huge, beautiful, special life to have loved and to grieve. Thank you for sharing her with us all.”
Colleen went on to call mourning a “beautiful privilege,” writing that “to grieve is to know you loved deeply and fully.” She concluded by telling fans, “To the woman we all love, and all those who grieve for her – I love you all,” and asking them to “respect the family and her personal friends.”
However, several social media users took issue with the way Colleen centered the tribute around her own relationship with her father. “This is the weirdest condolence post I have ever seen. It’s giving how can I make something not about myself, about me. This is nepo baby at its worst,” one critic wrote on Instagram.
Another commenter added, “An utterly ridiculous comment to make. This is not about you or your father.” A third offered advice: “Allie, just a note. Next time, let someone read your work before you publish it. I know what you meant, however now was not the time to say it.”
Some followers questioned Colleen’s apparent suggestion that fans could not understand the grief experienced by the loved ones of a celebrity. “We will mourn the loss, never in the way you will. Just know that all of us may have gone through that before and we will understand your pain,” one person commented.
Colleen pushed back directly. “I don’t think you will.. I would never relate to you losing your father – I don’t know how you would relate to mine. Kind of exactly what I am talking about 💜,” she replied on Instagram.
Another follower responded, “That’s kinda insinuating like none of us have loved our dads as much as you love yours? Loss is loss. Everyone who has experienced it can relate.”
Colleen clarified that she was not attempting to diminish anyone else’s grief. “I would never act like I understand how much you grieve anyone – that’s all I am saying,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I would never act like I understand how you feel the day you lose your person, so I would expect the same respect that you don’t know how I feel the day I lose mine,” she added.
When another confused commenter asked, “No one is allowed to be sad except the family? That’s wild,” Colleen fired back. “This is my account— I am saying I don’t know how to respond to these things in my industry because of my life experiences. I’m not telling anyone else how to grieve. I’m just acknowledging the family. You do you babe,” she wrote on Instagram.
Colleen did receive support from fellow country music offspring Mackenzie Lynn Adkins, whose father is Trace Adkins. “I’m more of an avoidant when it comes to fears like this. But that is very very scary and real for my sisters and I. Thank you for explaining it better than I could,” Mackenzie commented on the post.
“I know you understand babe 💜 should the day come— we’ll get through it,” Colleen replied.
In the viral moment that preceded this backlash, Parton died Tuesday at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, leaving behind a $450 million estate. The “Jolene” singer’s family announced her passing as tributes poured in from fans and fellow celebrities across the music industry and beyond.
Colleen is the youngest of Brooks’ three daughters with ex-wife Sandy Mahl. The former couple also shares daughters Taylor and August. Like her famous dad, Colleen pursued a career in country music and released her debut album, “Stones,” in 2021.
Parton’s family is expected to announce memorial service details in Nashville in the coming days.