By admin 
Following news of Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday, the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo took to social media to remember the late icon — a frequent guest of the similarly embellished all-pink hotel.
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And it bestowed a special honor upon her in the process.
“We are heartbroken to say goodbye to our dear friend, Dolly Parton,” the hotel said in a post Tuesday. “Dolly was a cherished friend of the Madonna Inn, and Alex and Phyllis Madonna treasured their friendship with her.”
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In 2014, Phyllis Madonna shared a few details of that friendship with The Tribune, calling Parton “down to earth.”
“I am not a person who loves movie stars or famous people,” she told The Tribune at the time. “I just think they’re all people — they’re no better than the average Joe, in my opinion. But I felt connected with Dolly Parton because she’s so down to earth, and she’s never putting on.”
According to Phyllis Madonna, she eventually introduced the star to late husband Alex Madonna — and he was besotted.
“He was so thrilled,” she remembered. “From that time on, I never could get a word in edgewise. He just took over.”
Steakhouse table will forever be ‘Dolly’s Booth’
The inn also had another way to memorialize one of its most beloved guests.
“Her visits throughout the years created memories we will always hold close, and our gold booth in the Alex Madonna Steakhouse will forever be known as ‘Dolly’s Booth,’” the post said.
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For years, a Twitter post by journalist Anna Merlan has circulated online sharing the details of Parton’s meal order when she visits the Madonna Inn.
“I know a lot is bad in the world, but I have just learned that when Dolly Parton visits the Madonna Inn, she gets a double order of garlic bread, a large steak, has ‘magnificent,’ ever-changing hair, and is faultlessly sweet to the waitstaff, who she, of course, calls by name,” the tweet said.
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The Madonna Inn echoed that description Tuesday, saying Parton was “the kindest soul, an incredible talent and a beautiful light who brought joy and love wherever she went.”
“In Dolly’s honor, enjoy a slice of Pink Champagne Cake and raise a sweet toast to a truly unforgettable woman,” the post concluded. “Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will always have a special place at the Madonna Inn.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2026 at 10:31 AM with the headline “SLO’s Madonna Inn names booth in honor of Dolly Parton — a ‘cherished friend’.”
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