Tricia Paoluccio on Keeping Dolly Parton's Light Alive

One month after Dolly Parton's passing, we sit down with Meredith's friend of 26 years, actress, writer, visual artist, and Here You Come Again star Tricia Paoluccio. Meredith and Tricia talk about what it means to embody an icon, create through loss, and remember the people who save us.

Since age five, when Tricia first heard "Here You Come Again" on the radio, Dolly Parton has been more than a singer—she's been a practical guide for living. That childhood devotion became the heart of Here You Come Again, the two-person musical she co-wrote that's played sold-out theaters across the U.S., UK, and Australia. In it, Dolly appears as a "rhinestoned, hourglass-shaped Mary Poppins," helping Kevin—a struggling comedian in lockdown—remember that hope is always one song away.

In this episode, Tricia opens up about playing the Queen of Country, the discipline of embodiment over impersonation, growing up on a farm like Dolly did, and why the show's core message—"everyone has a little Dolly inside, insisting it's all going to be alright"—feels more necessary than ever.

We also talk about her multidisciplinary life as artist, activist, and chaplain; her pressed-flower art worn at the Met Gala; and what it means to create across disciplines without apology.

A conversation about legacy, authenticity, and keeping the people we love close through the art we make.
Instagram:
@hereyoucomeagainmusical

Websites:
🌸 Personal: triciapaoluccio.com
🌸 Domain of the Flowerings (visual art brand): domainoftheflowerings.com