Dolly Parton has been remembered as a “true country music icon” following her death aged 80. The singer’s death was announced by her nephew Brian Seaver, who said sharing the news was “an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness”.
Stars pay tribute
Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the country star in a heartfelt post on Instagram, describing Parton as a “magnificent star” and “wonderful woman” who he met at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, country music’s most well-known venue and where Parton first appeared at age 13.
He said: “She was so bubbly and full of life it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed. Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly.”
He added: “She was a very clever business woman who understood the value of her music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world. There was no greater honour for me than to have her sing my song Let It Be and, even though I only made a small contribution to it, I am so honoured that she did it. I am so proud to have known her and admire her unique talents. Thanks Dolly for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world. We will always love you, god bless and rest in peace. You were the best.”
Venue and celebrity tributes
The Grand Ole Opry also paid tribute and said: “May her legacy live on through her songs, the lives she touched, and the countless artists she inspired. There will never, ever be another one like her. We will always love you, Dolly.” The Empire State Building tower lights will also honour the singer by tuning the lights to a “pink sparkle” at 9:25.
Sharing a photo of them together, actress Lily Tomlin said she had “no words”, also sharing a broken heart emoji. The pair were lifelong friends, also starring in the 1980 film 9 To 5 alongside Jane Fonda. Singer Carole King said her “heart was breaking”. She wrote: “In addition to her musical talents, she was an exemplary human being.” Actress Jamie Lee Curtis added: “Thank you, Dolly. For all of it.”
Country singer Reba McEntire made a personal tribute to her “buddy Dolly” and wrote on Instagram: “Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge, huge heart. There will never ever be another you.” McEntire added: “I’ll never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart. I will always love you, Reba.”
More tributes from music and screen
Singer Dionne Warwick – who collaborated with Parton on the 2023 song Peace Like A River – said in a post on X and Instagram: “I will certainly miss her laughter, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend. My heart is heavy.” In a series of online posts on X, country music star Kacey Musgraves shared: “Dolly. This really hurts. The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden. So glad she’s with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.” Fellow country singer Keith Urban shared: “Heartbroken today. Honestly… I have no words right now.”
Seth Macfarlane, who worked with Parton on sci-fi comedy series The Orville, wrote that it was an “extraordinary” experience. He wrote: “Her kindness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment one, and the benign yet assured command she maintained over her empire was obvious from the genuine love and trust you could see from everyone who worked for her. The world is a dimmer place today without her.”
Singer and actress Kristen Chenoweth, who recorded a version of I Will Always Love You with Parton in 2019, said: “Like the rest of the world, I’m immediately heartbroken. I met Dolly on several occasions and she always made me feel like one of her own. She even agreed to sing with me on one of my records. My ultimate inspiration. The world has lost one of the best but I know we will never forget her because she is impossible to forget. I love you Dolly and I will ALWAYS love you.”
Legacy and honours
In 1986, Miss Piggy and Kermit appeared on her TV variety show, Dolly, with The Muppets’ official Instagram page also paying tribute. It shared: “There will never be another quite like Dolly Parton. She was the ultimate singer, songwriter, actress, performer, and philanthropist. She filled the world with light and we are so grateful for every second we got to spend with her onstage and off.”
Actor Colman Domingo shared: “Dolly taught us that you can be anything and do anything and to do it with kindness. What a light. We are all grateful that we lived in a time of Dolly Parton. We will always love her.” Meanwhile, US Senator Bernie Sanders called her “one of the great entertainers of our era” but also “a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief”.
Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger honoured the singer in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram including a photograph of the pair together. He said: “What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was. She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much.”
TV presenter Oprah Winfrey said one of her fondest memories with Parton was “having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly.” She added: “This girl from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee dreamed a life and then lived a life bigger than she could have ever imagined, giving so generously to others in ways we saw and ways we didn’t. No one like her. She brought the light, and we are all better because she was here. God bless you, Dolly — you earned your wings.”
Actress Bette Midler said she was “devastated” and described Parton’s voice as “pure gold” with a “heart to match”. “I’m sure the nation will mourn her as I do, and for many years to come,” she added, “what a terrible, terrible loss”. Parton appeared on her sitcom Bette where the pair sang a rendition of her song Islands In The Stream.
The Academy also paid tribute to the country star who was also a two-time Oscar nominee and was honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award last year for her “extraordinary compassion and generosity”. The post featured a video of Parton from the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as she sings I Will Always Love You. The caption read: “Few stars could light up a screen, tell a story through a song, or find their way into our hearts quite like Dolly Parton. Dolly brought something entirely her own to everything she did. She was radiant on screen and in song; she could put a lifetime of feeling into just a few words. And through it all, there was a warmth to Dolly that made her feel wonderfully close to us.”
