BBC Breakfast dedicated the opening of Wednesday's show to honouring Dolly Parton, who has died aged 80. Her family announced her death last night, and her publicists confirmed she died after a "brief battle with cancer".
Hosts Sally Nugent and Ben Thompson led with the news as the programme began on August 26. They shared tributes from Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Taylor Swift. A correspondent in North America reported: "Emotional tributes here in Nashville as fans remember the Queen of country and the lives she touched beyond her music." Ben added: "Celebrities from Taylor Swift to Paul McCartney have paid tribute as fans gather to lay flowers."
Fans describe heartbreak and remember her light
In a clip showing fans paying tribute, one supporter described the news as "heartbreaking and sad", while another remembered Dolly as "very inspiring and the light in a dark world". The programme then aired a segment reflecting on her extraordinary life and career.
Overlaid with clips of Dolly's interviews and performances, a reporter shared: "Flowers, tributes, flags across America are being lowered in honour of Dolly Parton. In a statement, President Trump said, 'There has never been anyone like her'."
Archive interviews recall her childhood and rise to stardom
The segment featured archive interviews with Dolly herself, recalling her childhood: "My folks were just simple, poor, mountain people. We lived on a farm, I'm from a family of 12 children, and I think being the fourth one down, I didn't get paid a lot of attention. I was the kind of kid that needed a lot of attention."
Her voice went on: "I was just about 10 then, and I sang my song, and they kept bringing me back, wanting me to sing it. I remember looking up at my uncle and saying, 'I'm going to be a star'."
Career highlights and her foundation's impact
The BBC reporter looked back on Dolly's successful career and how she "developed a look", as a clip of Dolly showing her wigs aired. The tribute also played interviews where she spoke about her perception, before the reporter said: "It was carefully crafted, glossy, fakery on the outside. What was real was the life and stories she sang about."
They went on: "In the 70s and 80s, she reached far beyond the country audience with a run of hits. There were the movies, the TV production company, and Dollywood, her own theme park. Her foundation sent out more than 300 million books to children, a project inspired by her father, who had not had a chance to learn to read."
Throughout BBC Breakfast, guests from the music industry paid tribute, with one saying: "She led with such heart." They added: "The thing about Dolly is she is appreciated everywhere in the world, she is known by one name and everybody throughout the world knows and loves her."
Health issues and her final message
The BBC reporter continued: "She was a country star with an audience that seemed to cross all boundaries, class, sex, religion, and politics. And as she reached her 70s, her popularity only seemed to grow."
"But in the months after the death of her husband Carl, there were health issues, treated in typical Dolly style." Back in May, Dolly had cancelled her Las Vegas residency as she underwent treatment for health issues. She said at the time: "I've still got some healing to do, but I am on my way!" In a video message, she joked that she "can't be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on 5-inch heels - and you know that I'm going to be wearing them". "Not to mention, all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big… uh, personality," she laughed. BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
