Kate Garraway transformed into Dolly Parton as she arrived at the Smooth FM studios in Central London for Global's Make Some Noise charity day. The presenter, alongside Smooth FM colleagues Jenni Falconer and Paul Phear, recreated some of Dolly's most iconic looks.
Dolly-inspired outfit
Sporting a wig of tumbling blonde curls, Kate wore a figure-hugging pink-and-white Dolly-esque bodysuit. In true Dolly style, the outfit was adorned with tassels across the chest and flared trousers, paired with striking white heeled boots. Kate swapped her signature mousy-blonde hair for Dolly's iconic curly platinum-blonde locks, with a white cowboy hat shielding her from the London rain.
Jenni also transformed into Dolly, wearing a red-and-white chequered blouse and a denim-look skirt, complete with a striking blonde wig almost identical to the singer's signature hairstyle.
Learning to smile again
Kate's fun outing comes after she hit back at criticism she has faced for moving on with her life following the death of her husband, Derek Draper, in 2024. Derek had suffered from the effects of Coronavirus after contracting the virus in March 2020, leading to multiple health issues, with Kate spending thousands on round-the-clock care for the late political lobbyist.
"I still get it now if we're larking around on the programme," Kate said on Friday's edition of Good Morning Britain. She added: "People sort of on social media say, 'Oh, it didn't take her long to get over her husband dying,' as though you can't smile again. And actually, what you're trying to do is smile again, that's what you think, like [Harry's] mum, your [gestures to Ranvir] dad, and people that you've lost want you to do."
Reflections on grief
The discussions came as Kate and her co-anchor, Ranvir Singh, reflected on Prince Harry's recent admission about his own experiences with grief. The Duke of Sussex said that following the death of his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, he struggled to remember what she looked like and how her laugh sounded. "I'd spent so long emotionally numb, to a large extent, because nobody told me joy was still allowed," the Duke said.
This week, various familiar faces at Global's radio station have been participating in challenges and dressing up for their annual Make Some Noise Day, raising funds for life-changing projects across the United Kingdom.
