Garth Brooks’s daughter has drawn criticism online after sharing what some fans called an “odd” and “selfish” Instagram message in the wake of Dolly Parton’s reported death at 80 on Tuesday.
Allie Colleen, 30, posted a tribute to the country music icon on Instagram, but the tone of the message left many followers puzzled.
Colleen, who has built her own career as a country singer, opened the text post by reflecting on what she described as her “greatest fear in life”: the eventual loss of her father.
She wrote that she dreads the day when “the world” grieves a man they did not know in the same intimate way she does.
Brooks shares Colleen with his ex-wife, Sandy Mahl, whom he was married to from 1986 until 2001.
Garth Brooks’s daughter is receiving backlash over an Instagram post some readers viewed as unusual and self-focused following Dolly Parton’s reported death
Parton was reported to have died at age 80 on Tuesday, prompting country singer Allie Colleen to share her reaction online
Colleen’s note also appeared to acknowledge Parton’s “personal family and friends,” adding that they had her “love and condolences today and forever going forward”
‘To the personal family and friends of Mrs Dolly, you have all my love and condolences today and forever going forward,’ she added.
‘What a huge, beautiful, special life to have loved and to grieve. Thank you for sharing her with us all.’
Parton enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible seven decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.
Colleen’s text post called the music icon’s life a ‘huge, beautiful, special’ one to have loved and grieved before thanking Parton’s loved ones for sharing her with the world.
A further note in the caption of her post went on to say ‘what a beautiful privilege it is to mourn.’
She added: ‘To grieve is to know you loved deeply and fully. To the woman we all love, and all those who grieve for her— I love you all.’
Colleen left fans with a final note in her original message: ‘Please respect the family and her personal friends
But the social media statement seemingly rubbed some viewers the wrong way.
Colleen left fans with a final note in her original message: ‘Please respect the family and her personal friends
But the social media statement seemingly rubbed some viewers the wrong way
Instagram users suggested that the focus should have remained on Parton alone.
‘That is a really odd comment. This is about Dolly, not how you will feel when the time comes,’ one user wrote.
Another commented: ‘Your greatest fear in life? Lucky lady!… There is an art to expressing oneself eloquently which some people don’t possess. Yes, it seems odd, but let’s be kind anyway – like Dolly would have been.’
A third chimed in: ‘Gross. Regardless of a person’s public personality, a family is mourning the loss of their person. Don’t make it about you. Dolly deserves a memorial post about her, not about you.’
Some commenters explained that they understood what Colleen was trying to say but criticized the timing of her post.
Colleen was called out by others for having a nepo-baby outlook.
She is the youngest of Brooks’s three daughters with Mahl and has older siblings Taylor and August. The Friends in Low Places crooner is now married to Trisha Yearwood.
‘How selfish … shame on her. Karma will win. And may Miss Dolly rest in peace, sweet angel ❤️,’ one commenter wrote.
Another quipped: ‘Well you definitely got your narcissistic attitude from your daddy.’
Colleen is the youngest of Brooks’s three daughters with Sandy Mahl. The Friends in Low Places crooner is now married to Trisha Yearwood (right)
Colleen was called out by others for having a nepo baby outlook, with commenters calling her ‘gross’ and ‘narcissistic’
But the drama didn’t stop there; Colleen clapped back, responding to several critics, including one who suggested that Brooks fans ‘will understand your pain’ should her father die before her.
‘I don’t think you will… I would never relate to you losing your father – I don’t know how you would relate to mine. Kind of exactly what I am talking about,’ Colleen wrote.
Commenters also noted that the post insinuated that the love in her relationship with Brooks was somehow stronger than any other father-child bond.
She responded to another post explaining: ‘I would never act like I understand how much you grieve anyone – that’s all I am saying.’
Colleen, who released her own album, Stones, in 2021, explained more in her response to another Instagram user: ‘This is my account – I am saying I don’t know how to respond to these things in my industry because of my life experiences.
‘I’m not telling anyone else how to grieve. I’m just acknowledging the family. You do you, babe.’
