Dolly Parton 'Never' Forgot Her Humble Beginnings Despite Massive Success, Says Hometown Mayor: 'She Was So Proud of This Area'

Dolly Parton "never" forgot her hometown roots despite achieving international fame.

"Her family didn’t have a lot, but they had the things that mattered," Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters shared in a Thursday, August 27, interview. "She's shown that over the years. She was such a treasure to us with her talent and generosity."

As OK! previously reported, the "Jolene" singer died at age 80 on Tuesday, August 25, following a brief battle with cancer.

Parton grew up as one of 12 children in a small one-bedroom home in Pittman Center, Tenn. The humble abode reportedly had no electricity or running water.

Waters – who is a lifelong resident of Sevier County – told Page Six Parton would often ride public transportation to visit her aunt and uncle, who lived below him.

"My grandfather would have her sing gospel songs on the bus," he recalled. "After most everyone would get off, he’d go, ‘Dolly, sing us a gospel song.’ And she’d do that. She always had that talent. And always had that vivacious personality, that smile, that love for people."

Waters claimed that despite the Grammy winner finding massive success, she "didn't change over the years."

"And boy, do I appreciate that. So many people who have achieved that level of fame — they change and forget where they come from. Dolly never did," he explained.

"She was so proud of this area and we were so proud of her and continue to be proud of her — proud of what a girl from the mountains of Sevier County made of herself," he continued. "She did that herself. She is not only a great talent and generous, she’s a smart businessperson who understood what it took to be successful."

The mayor called the Queen of Country's death "tough," adding, "It’s hard to imagine a world without Dolly Parton in it. She was always doing new projects and generous with helping people."

"What she’s accomplished won’t end, her talent, we’ll still be able to listen to her, and her generosity is gonna live on through the foundation that she had and she made sure of that," he concluded. "That’s just the kind of person she was."

Parton will reportedly be honored in a small, private funeral by her immediate family before being laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tenn., next to her late husband, Carl Dean, per TMZ.