Why Dolly Parton’s death can feel like losing someone you knew personally

The death of Dolly Parton has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans around the world, many of whom have shared that they feel like they’ve lost someone they knew personally.

Grief experts say it’s possible to experience genuine feelings of loss even if there wasn’t a personal relationship — particularly when the public figure has become woven into people’s memories and routines over a long period of time.

Psychologists refer to this type of loss as parasocial grief, according to licensed clinical psychologist Dr.

Dara Houp .

DOLLY PARTON’S PRIVATE CANCER BATTLE HIGHLIGHTS WHY SOME PATIENTS DON’T SHARE THEIR DIAGNOSES "When a celebrity shares their personal life – childhood experiences, hardships and victories – our brains register these bits of information through the same emotional and neural pathways utilized for our real-life friendships and a genuine attachment is developed," Houp, with Pathways Psychological Services in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

When that perceived relationship comes to an end, people may experience the parasocial grief , she said.

Desiree Taranto, a licensed mental health counselor and clinical director at Empower Your Mind Therapy in New York City, said the widespread reaction also reflects "collective grief," a shared emotional response when a loss resonates across a community.

"Parton’s music, movies, philanthropy and public persona became part of many people’s family traditions , memories and difficult life moments," she told Fox News Digital.

"I honestly didn’t know I could react that way over someone I don’t even personally know," one user wrote in a grief support group on Reddit.

"[Dolly] was a ray of sunshine in this dark world nowadays, and I just can’t help but cry and get so emotional about it." Another user shared that "as each day passes, losing Dolly seems to hurt more instead of less.

I have found myself crying and feeling this deep sadness that I just can’t shake." IN WAKE OF DOLLY PARTON'S DEATH, ONCOLOGIST REVEALS WHY SOME PATIENTS KEEP CANCER DIAGNOSES SECRET "I never met Dolly, and I know she didn’t know me, but I loved her for most of my life.

That love was real, and so this grief feels real too." Someone else in a different group referred to the feelings of sadness as "post-Parton depression." "I don't know why I am taking Dolly Parton's death so hard," one user wrote.

"I never met her… She didn't know me.

But for some reason, I can't stop crying." "I think the reason it's hard is because she was a light and just a wonderful human," someone else shared.