The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom

Eleven-year-old Elizabeth Alison Gray lives a quiet suburban life and expects adolescence to arrive like a simple next chapter, until she discovers that facts she relied on are not what they seemed. Confused and hurting, she turns inward, shaping elaborate fantasies to fill the gaps left by grownups who won't explain themselves. With a mix of stubbornness and boyish humor, she slips away from home to chase answers about her past and to test the stories adults tell. The film follows Elizabeth as she copes with secrecy and disappointment, relying on imagination and unlikely alliances rather than adult reassurances, while learning who she can trust and what parts of herself to keep. Her emotional growth is quiet and honest.

Released in 2011, the film was directed by Tara Johns and stars Julia Sarah Stone as Elizabeth, with Gil Bellows, Macha Grenon, and Chantele Francis in supporting roles. Dolly Parton contributes a voice cameo, adding a note to the story.

The film played the festival circuit and had a limited theatrical run rather than a wide release. It did not generate major box office attention, finding most of its audience through festivals and niche screenings, including a few regional openings.

The unusual title and Dolly Parton's participation drew curiosity, helping the film stand out where many small dramas get overlooked. While it never reached mainstream fame, it earned a modest, appreciative audience who cite Julia Sarah Stone's early performance and the film's honest handling of childhood confusion and family secrecy.

Critical reaction was mixed to mildly favorable, reflected in a 6.6/10 user rating from a number of votes. Reviewers noted Stone's natural, nuanced lead turn and the film's sensitive approach to identity, secrecy, and resilience, though some critics found pacing uneven and tonal shifts distracting, yet it gained niche fans.