WESTLAND, Mich. – When Brenda asked her daughter Amanda what she wanted if she could have any wish, Brenda already knew that Amanda would say she’d want to meet country ster Dolly Parton.

“Amanda just thinks the woman is amazing. She always has. She loves her music, her literacy program and all she does,” Brenda said.

And when national charity Kids Wish Network gave Amanda the opportunity to meet Parton, it didn’t even matter to Amanda that her mom couldn’t get off work to go. The family was told they could wait to meet Parton in the spring when Brenda could get time off, but Amanda...