Dolly Parton, the American country music legend, has died at the age of 80 on Tuesday, August 25, following a short battle with cancer. Tributes have poured in from around the world, and her songs 'Jolene' and 'I Will Always Love You' are expected to leave a lasting impact for years to come.
Parton had a particular fondness for Scotland, having described the country as "home" in one interview. She performed many times in Scotland throughout her career, from her first appearance in 1977 to her last in 2014, calling one of those concerts "one of the biggest thrills of my life."
First Visit in 1977
Parton's first visit to Scotland came in 1977, when she performed for Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Royal Variety Performance. She did not know she would be singing for the monarch until she was already on the flight from America, but described the Queen as warm and kind.
In 1980, Parton returned with her brother David, and the two were photographed at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh for the opening night of Morning's at Seven, a play about four sisters in a small Midwestern town in 1928.
Glasgow Concerts in 2002 and 2007
Parton returned to Glasgow in 2002 to play her first gigs in the city in 25 years, performing two nights at the Clyde Auditorium as part of her Halos & Horns Tour. The concerts promoted her bluegrass-infused album and showcased her vocals alongside acoustic instruments.
In 2007, she came back to Glasgow as part of her An Evening with Dolly Parton tour, again at the Clyde Auditorium, almost exactly 30 years after the 1977 Royal Variety Performance. The concert featured timeless hits like '9 to 5' and 'Jolene' alongside stripped-back acoustic numbers.
Final Scotland Shows in 2011
Parton's last concerts in Scotland were in 2011, when she played two nights at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre as part of her Better Day World Tour. That tour was the most successful of her career, surpassing her previous attendance records in countries across Europe.
