Dolly Parton, the country music icon who died aged 80 on Tuesday, August 25, had a lasting affection for Scotland, rooted in her own Scottish-Irish ancestry and her many visits to the country throughout her career.
The singer, known for hits like Jolene and 9 to 5, regularly spoke warmly about her love for the country and its people. She also partnered with the Scottish Government through her Imagination Library charity, which provides books to young children.
A 'fascination' with Scotland's charm
Speaking to the Daily Record in 2013, Parton opened up about her Scottish roots and admitted one thing about the country always 'fascinated' her.
She said: "I've always loved the fans in Scotland and have a little Scottish blood of my own. I’ve always loved coming there and singing all those songs that people have loved through the years. We’re fascinated with all the beautiful buildings and all that olde world charm that we don’t have here."
She added: "Everything is all a little too modern here in the United States. I just love everything about Scotland, the people most of all. I love the warm hearts and friendly faces."
Performing for the Queen in Glasgow
One of the biggest moments of Dolly’s career took place in Scotland when she performed for Queen Elizabeth at Glasgow's Royal Variety Performance in 1977. The event marked Parton's first visit to Scotland, and she later described performing for the Queen as "one of the biggest thrills of my life."
The star was among a group of legendary musicians entertaining the Queen at the event, including The Jackson 5 and Scottish singer Sydney Devine. Dolly did not even know she would be performing for the Queen until she was already travelling from America.
Reflecting on the trip during a 2020 interview with STV, she said: "I remember everything about that, I remember the fans and I remember that wonderful city. We all loved getting out and sightseeing. You take it all for granted, but it was amazing for us to get out and see all that because that's kind of my background too. Part of my family is from Ireland, some from Scotland, some from Wales, some from England. I'm kind of just a little mix of all of that. But my music seems to resonate more I think with the Irish and in Scotland. I came to Scotland and I felt like I'd come home in a way."
Lasting impact of the Imagination Library
Her affection for Scotland extended beyond her music, with Dolly's Imagination Library having a lasting impact on children and families across the country. In Renfrewshire, the programme has now provided more than 230,000 books to young children, while the council has also announced its first official Dolly Parton Day for September 25.
