VIDEO: Dolly Parton shows off gift as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney aim to recruit superstar after discovering Welsh ancestry

The beloved country music icon recently revealed a delightful surprise from Reynolds and McElhenney. In a video posted on social media by Reynolds, Parton can be seen unwrapping a gift box containing Wrexham merchandise, a "beautiful" scarf sent to her by the Hollywood duo. The gesture was part of a humorous and heartwarming effort to connect with Parton, who had recently discovered her Welsh ancestry.

The video begins with Parton addressing her fans about her newfound Welsh heritage, a discovery that came to light after an ancestry check revealed her familial ties to Conwy, North Wales.

Parton said: “You may have seen my recent announcement about possibly having Welsh ancestry, well I was tickled to learn that, and I was even more tickled when I received a lovely gift from the Welsh Board of Tourism and Docudramas. They sent me this beautiful scarf and asked if I’d say a few words about Wales.”

As she opens a letter from the so-called "Welsh Board of Tourism and Docudramas," Parton jokingly expresses her hope that the contents are not written in Welsh, a playful nod to her unfamiliarity with the language.

As she reads the letter, the video takes a humorous turn with the appearance of Reynolds and McElhenney. The duo reveals that the Welsh Board of Tourism does not exist and that they were behind the gift. McElhenney explains, "You see, when we found out your family might be from Wales, we thought who better to help promote our docuseries about North Wales and their beloved football club?" This clever and endearing stunt is part of the promotional campaign for their FX docuseries, "Welcome to Wrexham."

After watching the trailer, Parton, 78, responded with her characteristic warmth and humour, saying, “Well, that is just so nice – it kind of makes me feel homesick.”

"Welcome to Wrexham" has become a global favourite since Reynolds and McElhenney acquired a controlling stake in the club in late 2020. The docuseries provides an inside look at the club’s journey from League Two to League One, capturing the highs and lows of professional sports as the world began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second series showcased Wrexham’s promotion to League One, and the upcoming third series promises to document the club’s efforts to ascend to the Championship, the second tier of English football.

This lighthearted collaboration between Parton and the Wrexham co-owners exemplifies the power of celebrity influence in promoting local and cultural narratives. It also underscores the creative ways in which Reynolds and McElhenney are leveraging their star power to bring attention to Wrexham and its community.

The third season of "Welcome to Wrexham" is now streaming on Disney+, offering fans a new installment of the captivating story of Wrexham AFC.