Dolly Parton's 1977 performance in Glasgow, which she described as "one of the biggest thrills of my life," has been recalled following the country music legend's death at the age of 80. Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, her publicist and family announced on Tuesday, August 25.
Scottish Connections and the 1977 Royal Variety Performance
Parton had many connections to Scotland. The 'Jolene' singer had Scottish-Irish ancestry on her father's side, partnered with the Scottish Government as part of her Imagination Library charity, and penned a heartfelt letter to Dunfermline in 2023 after it was granted city status the year before.
One of the biggest moments of Parton's career took place in Scotland, when she performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Glasgow's Royal Variety Performance in 1977. The country music legend described the high-profile performance as "one of the biggest thrills of my life."
The Queen's Silver Jubilee Visit to Glasgow
In honour of the 25th anniversary of her coronation, the Queen journeyed to Scotland's largest city on May 17, 1977, as part of her Silver Jubilee tour. The monarch enjoyed a day of processions and other activities in Glasgow, with the visit culminating in an evening of performances at the King's Theatre.
Among the legendary musicians who entertained the Queen were The Jackson 5, Sydney Devine, and of course Dolly Parton. The event marked Parton's first visit to Scotland, and she didn't even know that she would be performing for Queen Elizabeth II until she was already en-route from America.
Parton's Reaction and Later Scottish Tours
According to Parton, her management only told her during her flight to Scotland that the monarch would be watching her sing. Parton praised Queen Elizabeth for being friendly and kind during their meeting, and decades later in 2023 was invited to tea with Princess Catherine.
Speaking to the Evening News at the time, Parton said: "When they told me on the plane I was appearing in front of the Queen I just jumped up and down telling everyone. It’s just one of the biggest thrills of my life. When I was a little girl I grew up in a world of kings and queens and princes and princesses in fairy tales, now I'm going to meet one."
Parton would later return to Scotland many times throughout the rest of her career, performing at Glasgow venues such as the Clyde Auditorium and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Her final concerts in the country took place in 2014, when she played shows in Aberdeen and Glasgow as part of the Blue Smoke World Tour.
Reflecting on Her Scottish Roots
Later, reflecting on her iconic 1977 performance in a 2020 interview with STV, Parton commented: "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." She added: "I came to Scotland and I felt like I'd come home in a way."
