For years, millions of Americans knew Pauley Perrette as the fearless and unforgettable Abby Sciuto on NCIS.

But put Pauley in front of Dolly Parton, and apparently even one of television’s most recognizable stars could suddenly become completely starstruck.

Years ago, Pauley was asked about a moment when meeting another celebrity left her speechless.

Her answer came immediately:

Dolly Parton.

“Oh my goodness, Dolly Parton!!” Pauley recalled in a 2014 interview with Channel Guide Magazine, explaining that she loved Dolly so much that when the opportunity came to meet her, she simply didn’t know what to say or what to do.

It’s a wonderfully human story.

By that point, Pauley was already famous herself. Millions watched her every week on NCIS, where Abby became one of the show’s most beloved characters.

Yet Dolly was different.

For Pauley—and millions of other fans—Dolly represented something bigger than celebrity.

She was the voice behind songs that had followed people through marriages, heartbreaks, family gatherings and decades of memories. She was also known for the warmth and humor that made even other celebrities react like ordinary fans when they met her.

Looking back at Pauley’s comments now carries considerably more emotion following Dolly’s death at 80 on August 25, 2026.

Tributes have poured in from across entertainment, with stars sharing their own private memories of Dolly and describing the kindness she showed when cameras weren’t around.

And Pauley’s old story reminds us of something surprisingly powerful.

Fame didn’t matter in that moment.

She wasn’t Abby from NCIS.

She wasn’t a television star.

She was simply a Dolly Parton fan who suddenly found herself standing in front of someone she had admired for years—and couldn’t find the words.

Sometimes the smallest celebrity stories tell us the most about just how much someone meant to people.