James Patterson Reflects on His Friendship with Dolly Parton: "I Fell Head Over Heels in Love"

James Patterson is looking back on his friendship with Dolly Parton. The bestselling author paid tribute to the legendary country singer, who died on August 25 at age 80, in a statement shared with PEOPLE. Patterson and Parton collaborated on the 2022 novel Run, Rose, Run, and became friends while working on the book over two years.

"I had a half-baked but potentially really good idea for a story about a country singer," Patterson recalled in the statement. "I suggested to Dolly's manager that she and I consider writing a novel together. Dolly was interested, but she wanted to meet face-to-face before deciding. We needed to talk, to get to know one another, if we were going to be writing partners. That made perfect sense to me."

The Meeting

Patterson says he "fell head over heels in love" with Parton the first time he met her in Nashville to discuss the project. He recalled that it started when Parton's driver picked him up at the airport. "You can tell a lot about rich or famous people by talking to the folks who work for them," Patterson said. "The driver had been with Dolly for over 20 years. He told me she was the best, the kindest person on the planet. He loved her and said everybody did. I believed him because of the way he said it. Also, because Dolly's reputation precedes her."

When Patterson met Parton at her office, he recalled finding her to be "down-to-earth, genuine, thoughtful, smart as a whip, funny and self-deprecating."

The Deal

"I guess she was okay with me too because we shook on a deal on the spot to write our book," Patterson recalled. "No agents, no lawyers, nothing but a promise between the two of us. That's the way things should work, in my opinion. Get rid of the middlemen."

Parton, however, was concerned that she wouldn't have enough material to contribute to Run, Rose, Run and even initially refused to put her name on the cover. "I told her that wasn't how this would work," Patterson said. "I wanted her help with the outline and then the book itself. She would make our story authentic because she knows everything about the music business. She would make the story strong, because that's what Dolly does best, tell stories. In fact, that's what country music is all about, storytelling."

The Collaboration

"Plus, there were a dozen or so songs in the novel. I needed a whole lot of help with those," Patterson added. Two days after he returned home, Parton even sent lyrics for seven original songs for the book.

Patterson said: "I still remember sending her pages one Friday night and on Saturday getting back this note:

'Hey Jimmy James, Loving it, loving it, loving it!!! Love our red-headed twins and the community guitar at the Nashville roadhouse. Nicely done. No notes on this batch keep it coming! Love, Dolly"

A Friendship Beyond the Book

The two collaborators' bond continued after their book came out, too. "For her birthday, I sent her one of those silver cups people give to a mom after she's had a baby. I had it inscribed happy birthday, baby," Patterson said. "For my birthday, Dolly sang 'Happy Birthday' to me over the phone. She also sent me a beautiful guitar. She inscribed it to jimmy james, " I will always love you."

Patterson's tribute captures the warmth and mutual respect that defined his friendship with Parton. Their collaboration was a meeting of two creative minds who shared a love of storytelling and a deep appreciation for each other's talents. The book they created together stands as a testament to their partnership, and the memories they made will endure.

As the world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, Patterson's words serve as a reminder of the profound impact she had on everyone she met. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to her craft left an indelible mark on those who had the privilege of knowing her. Patterson's tribute is a fitting farewell to a woman who was, as he said, "the best, the kindest person on the planet."