A local country music performer is among the many people saddened by the loss of Dolly Parton.

The legendary singer and songwriter passed away this week at the age of 80.

Mallory Johnson of CBS says Dolly Parton has been an integral part of the work she does.

Johnson regularly performs ‘Coat of Many Colors’ which she often sings with her mother on stage.

She never met Parton, but she has seen her perform, and their paths have crossed musically in a number of ways.

“I got to work with her on my album ‘Surprise Party,’ I got to sing all of my vocals in her vocal mic. I got to work with her band leader and her guitar player Kent Wells. I got to go to her 50th anniversary at the Opry and see her cut her big cake, and got to see her actually play these iconic hits live.”

“I was there with my parents in the fifth row and it was just so magical, and I even took my mom to Dollywood a couple of weeks ago.”