Dolly Parton's trust has filed to have the country legend's name on pet food, weeks after her death.
On Wednesday, October 14, the Dolly Parton Professional Property Trust filed a new trademark application for "Dolly's", covering three things, including pet food, edible pet treats and "foodstuffs and beverages for animals".
The trust filed it as an intent-to-use application, which means there is no product on shelves yet.
Parton died at the age of 80 following a brief battle with undisclosed cancer on August 25. The filing landed seven weeks later.
Dolly Patron herself filed for two trademarks linked to pet food
This is the third pet food trademark with her name on it this year.
On April 3, Parton applied in her own name for "Dolly Parton" and "Dolly" for the same pet food, treats and animal foodstuffs.
The examiner described the "Dolly" mark as her name in a stylised signature with a butterfly to its right. All three applications list the same attorney, Willmore F. Holbrow III.
Reason for delay
None of the applications have cleared, as the trademark naming a living persons requires written consent.
The July 17 letter on "Dolly" said the consent "must be personally signed by the individual" named in the mark, and the August 20 letter on "Dolly Parton" flagged the same thing.
That second letter went out five days before her death was announced.
Each letter gave three months to respond, with one paid extension allowed. As of Thursday, the records showed no response to either one.
The October filing is the only application on file under the trust's name.
Dolly Parton and pet business
Pets were not new territory for the 9 to 5 singer.
She launched a pet clothing line, Doggy Parton, in 2022, hosted a TV special called Dolly Parton's Pet Gala in 2024, and in August said she was developing a line of dog treats with Purina.
The day after her death, her team listed the projects she had left in the works, and "Dolly's Dog Treats", set for early 2027, was on it. The new application does not mention Purina or a launch date.
Previously, Dolly's longtime manager, Danny Nozell, assured fans that "if you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it".
