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Music — Kate Lamb (now); Lucy Campbell and Fran Lawther (earlier)
Dolly, warmly remembered in the Castro district of San Fransisco.
Celine Dion has paid tribute to Dolly Parton , writing on Instagram: “Dolly… you were pure light, with a kind heart and a generous spirit.
We will now be missing one of the most joyful voices this world has ever known. Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all. We will always love you.
Taylor Swift is the latest star to pay tribute to Dolly Parton, describing her as a “dazzling” person, and a gift that “kept on giving”.
A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Swift began in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter . “But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.
She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously… She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist.
Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too. Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way.
Dolly Parton was many things to millions of people – entertainer, songwriter, businesswoman, philanthropist, friend and inspiration . To those fortunate enough to know and work alongside her, she was also simply Dolly : warm, funny, thoughtful, generous and always deeply grounded in where she came from and the people she loved, writes the Associated Press.
Dolly often said that she had been blessed far beyond anything she ever dreamed possible, and she believed deeply that those blessings came with a responsibility to give something back,” said Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation.
That belief is woven into everything we do at The Dollywood Foundation. While we are heartbroken by her loss, the mission she gave us is as clear today as it has ever been, and it has ever been, and we will carry it forward for generations to come.
There are not many people who could match Dolly Parton as a singular figure in American life, but Don King is surely one of them. The flamboyant and controversial boxing promoter, who turned 95 last week, has shared a remembrance of Parton on social media, describing her as a “dear friend” and offering a characteristically vivid farewell.
“I love Dolly Parton,” King said. “She was a dear friend. She’d be greatly missed here on earth, but she’d be eternally remembered spiritually. Let the Lord giveth and the Lord take it away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Rest easy, Dolly, and keep a light in the window for me.”
King and Parton made for unlikely contemporaries. Both emerged from improbable beginnings to become larger-than-life American pop-culture icons, rising to global prominence in the 1970s and remaining instantly recognizable for decades afterward. Parton grew up in a one-room cabin in rural Tennessee as one of 12 children. King, known for his gravity-defying shock of silver hair, listened to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s first fight from prison in 1971; four years later, he promoted their third, the Thrilla in Manila.
Whether they were actually close is less clear. There appears to be no public record of a friendship between the pair, nor much evidence that their paths in the otherwise overlapping worlds of sports, entertainment and celebrity ever crossed publicly.
But King’s tribute was heartfelt nonetheless. And if nothing else, it was a case of game recognizing game: one unmistakable American original saluting another.
The Empire State building sparkling pink tonight in honour of Dolly.
More tributes to Dolly Parton, in pictures.
People gathered at the Dolly Parton statue.
Jad Abumrad , journalist and creator of the Dolly Parton’s America podcast has written an insightful opinion piece for the New York Times detailing his interactions with the country music queen. He starts:
I was lucky enough to interview Dolly Parton a dozen times, on two different continents, and she began nearly every interview with some version of this: ‘Ask me anything you want to ask me, and I’ll tell you what I want you to hear!’”
Beyond her musical talent, Parton was also lauded for her extensive philanthropic work on literacy through organizations such as the Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Imagination Library, which sends free books to children from birth to age five, has gifted more than 270m books since it was founded by Parton in 1995, inspired by her father, who could not read or write.
In 2024, one in seven children aged under five in the US received a book in the post each month from the program.
The Imagination Library was launched in the UK in 2007 on the back of the success of the project in the US.
The program’s UK outfit, which began in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has since gifted 7m books.
The Imagination Library X account posted that their team were “heartbroken” at the loss of their founder, who was proud that the program “grew into what it is today”.
Beyonc é has paid tribute to Dolly Parton , saying in a statement published to her website:
Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.
I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.
Check out this collection of Dolly Parton’s life through pictures.
Related: Dolly Parton – a life in pictures
A look at Dolly Parton, through her most memorable quotes.
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.”
“I think everyone should be with who they love. I don’t want to be controversial or stir up a bunch of trouble but people are going to love who they are going to love. I think gay couples should be allowed to marry. They should suffer just like us heterosexuals.”
Related: ‘It costs a lot of money to look this cheap’: Dolly Parton’s life in quotes
Dolly Parton's team confirms she has died after 'brief battle with cancer'
Dolly Parton’s team has confirmed the country music legend died after “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”.
“Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement continued.
Related: Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80 after fighting cancer
Ben Stiller shares his memory of Dolly Parton:
Dolly Parton memory: her being incredibly nice and cool to EVERYONE when i was on SNL in 1988 as a featured player/apprentice writer and wrote a sketch for her and me that bombed at readthrough and she totally sold it as it bombed and was so kind about it and I never met her again but always wanted to thank her for being so cool and making me and everyone feel special. What an icon, and for so long. A person who emanated goodness, and of course, a brilliant songwriter and performer. Sending love to her family and friends.
About 15,000km (9,300 miles) away from Dolly Parton’s beloved Smoky Mountains home in Tennessee, a small town in rural Australia will always love her .
Narromine , a farming community of 4,000 people in central NSW, is home to the Dolly Parton festival , which fills the wide country streets with her music every year.
Organiser Susie Rae said the town would hold a minute of silence to honour the queen of country music at the festival on 10 October, after Parton’s death.
Ms Rae, who founded the event in 2022, said Parton’s music, love and generosity breathed life into the community after it endured a prolonged drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It was just off the cusp of Covid and I remember standing there with [a local politician] and he said, ‘Susie, I haven’t felt the power of love like this for a very long time.’
“I said, ‘Well, that’s Dolly’ … It was incredible.”
A tribute from US president Donald Trump :
Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
An album and flowers are left outside Dolly Parton’s office after the announcement of her passing.
Flowers on Her Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles.
The White House has lowered its flag to half -mast in honour of Dolly Parton.
Another one from the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese , who writes:
Dolly Parton made our world a better place in so many ways, it’s hard to imagine the world without her. A singer and songwriter of rare power and talent, she also shone brightly as an actor, author and philanthropist. And the big, radiant heart of the Dolly universe was a personality as strong as it was compassionate, a vivacious woman of great humour and a sense of humanity sustained in no small part by the humble strength of her roots.
One of the joys of my time in Government was when I was able to help Dolly overcome a bit of red tape and get her tour bus on to Australian roads in 2011. It was a magical experience meeting her, but what was even better was seeing her among her legions of local fans. There are a lot of broken hearts in Australia and across the world today. Wherever you are, turn your stereo or your phone to Dolly then turn the volume up. And may the great Dolly Parton rest in peace.
Musician Eminem has shared his tribute, and a beautiful letter Dolly Parton once wrote to him .
I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had a an impact on me. She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it. Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.
Country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus said Parton recently messaged him to say that she “loved me with her whole heart” adding that he will “always” love her in the same way.
Parton was also the godmother to his daughter, singer Miley Cyrus , and appeared alongside the father-daughter duo on their Disney show Hannah Montana.
Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms … In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologise for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her. In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, ‘Honey, this trash sells records!’
Former US president Barack Obama has also paid tribute to Dolly, writing on X:
It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton. Born in a one-room cabin, she earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of kids learn to read, and – as if that wasn’t enough – helped accelerate the research that led to the Moderna COVID vaccine. What a life. Michelle and I are thinking of Dolly’s family and her many, many fans.
Dolly has been remembered for many things, including her part in helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, which helped end the Covid pandemic .
The country music icon donated $1m (£733,000) in 2020 to coronavirus research at the city’s Vanderbilt University, which helped fund Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
In August 2021, she told Absolute Radio Country:
When the pandemic came out, I just felt led to do something because I knew something bad was on the rise and I just kind of wanted to help with that, so I donated to help with that. So, mine was a small part, of course, but I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve, but I was happy to be part of that, and to be able to try to stop something in its tracks that’s really just become such a monster for all of us.
The US senator Jacky Rosen, from Neveda, paid tribute to Parton’s role in “helping end” the pandemic through her donation.
I join every American in mourning the incredibly sad news that Dolly Parton has passed away. Dolly was a music icon who inspired so many people and always gave back to her community, from supporting children’s literacy through her Imagination Library to helping end the Covid pandemic through her donation for vaccine research.”
Remembering Dolly Parton, one of the most beloved personalities in music and beyond
Country music icon and celebrated philanthropist Dolly Parton has died in Nashville at the age of 80, her family announced. “She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history,” her nephew Bryan Seaver said in a video statement , adding: “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.” Her funeral will be small and private, per her wishes, her family said.
In an interview last week, Parton had shared that she had been “dealing with some health issues” that had gone unaddressed while she cared for her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March last year. “I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life,” she told People on Friday.
Parton rose from grinding poverty in Tennessee to become a rhinestone-studded cultural icon , writing 3,000 songs including hits like Jolene and 9 to 5, acting in major Hollywood films and donating millions of dollars to charities in her home state and beyond. She was an accomplished businesswoman, with interests spanning from her Dollywood theme park to cosmetics, pet apparel, baking mixes and even a truck stop. Among her celebrated philanthropic work, the Dollywood Foundation distributes about 25m books each year across the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Ireland, while her $1m donated for research into Covid-19 formed the basis for the eventual Moderna vaccine.
One of the country’s most unifying personalities, Parton was paid tributes from figures across music, film, politics and beyond. In a lengthy and emotional Instagram post , her 9 to 5 co-star Jane Fonda wrote: “I know that millions are mourning and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever.” She was “the voluptuous embodiment of empathy”, she added. Fellow country star Reba McEntire shared a picture of her and Parton on Instagram, adding: “Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.”
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “Farewell dear Dolly.
“I’ll never forget the incredibly special time we spent in your trailer talking about songwriting. You were one of the greatest talents I’ve had the privilege of meeting.
“A great melodist and undisputed queen of storytelling songs.”
Donny Osmond shared this tribute along with a clip of Dolly Parton’s appearance on the Donny & Marie talkshow on 2 March 1999.
I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton. She has a heart of gold and a spirit that touched so many lives. She was a true woman of God, an incredible entertainer, and of course, one of the pillars of country music. Marie and I had the pleasure of having Dolly on our show, and what a pleasure it was. She had the most amazing way of making everyone in that studio feel like they were her best friend. I think it was that sweet Southern hospitality in her. Rest in peace, Dolly. What a beautiful life you lived, and what a gift you were to the world. Your name will be forever remembered by all. ‘We will always love you!’
Actor Russell Crowe said: “There’s only ever going to be one Dolly Parton. What a soul she carried.”
The Library is devastated to learn of the passing of @DollyParton, a music legend and titan of children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library program has earned multiple Library Literacy Awards and, in 2018, she visited us to donate its 100 millionth book to our collection and host a story time.
Jane Fonda , who starred with Parton in 9 to 5, shared this tribute on Instagram:
I am devastated. I just learned that Dolly has moved on. I know that millions are mourning and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever. We have our memories of her, her songs, Dollywood, ‘9to5’, the millions of books she got into the hands of children, all the iconic images that bring her to us.
And they are all blessings. Let’s be grateful for all that she has left us to ease our sadness now. I never knew anyone like her. She was simultaneously a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of
Tennessee and a deep, soulful thinker who could see through people right down to their true selves. She was many things … lyricist, songstress, player of many instruments, writer, prankster, visionary, loyal friend, who’d never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard they’d have to cross their legs.
She had a survivor’s instinct and seemed to always know just what to do, just what to say, to make things right … and then she’d stick her butt out the car window and moon Kenny Roger’s home. She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy. That’s something of hers she’d want us all to take with us.
To her gay and trans fans, I want you to know that she loved you. You know that without me telling you. She loved all her fans and they are legion. And you know she doesn’t want y’all to mourn now. Dress up and celebrate her spirit. But first, watch the final episode of Grace and Frankie where she’s an Angel, the head honcho working class angel in Heaven.
Flowers have been laid on Dolly Parton ’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.
For the US public, the feeling that Dolly Parton expressed in her country music chart-topping 1974 classic I Will Always Love You is clearly mutual.
In April, my colleague Ramon Antonio Vargas reported on a poll of Americans’ opinions about more than 20 international luminaries that established as much, with the 11-time Grammy winner and philanthropist leaving her two closest competitors – Barack Obama and Volodymyr Zelenskyy – in the dust by more than 50 percentage points.
Of 1,000 people surveyed by the University of Massachusetts and the market research firm YouGov heading into April, 70% of them had a favorable impression of Parton, an 11-time Grammy winner . Only 5% had an unfavorable impression of her, giving her a net favorability of 65% .
Obama, the US president from 2009 to 2017, had the poll’s next highest net favorability at 14%. He scored 50% favorability and 36% unfavorability among those surveyed.
And rounding out the poll’s metaphorical podium with a 12% net favorability was Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, which has been defending itself from invading Russian forces since February 2022. He arrived at that number after 35% of those surveyed reported having a favorable opinion of him and 22% indicated an unfavorable view of him.
Parton and Obama were the only public figures in the poll about whom at least half of the survey’s respondents had a favorable opinion.
Beside Parton’s nearly seven-decade musical career and her acting on films such as the critically acclaimed 9 to 5, a factor in her over-performance on the UMass/YouGov poll is almost certainly her mostly apolitical public relations strategy .
“ Everybody knows I don’t do politics ,” she said in a 2017 interview cited by the political news outlet the Hill. “ I’ve got as many Republican fans as Democrats, and I don’t want to make any of them mad at me, so I don’t play politics .”
Parton’s prolific philanthropic work, meanwhile, has surely won her many admirers.
She received the prestigious Carnegie medal of philanthropy in 2022, as Time noted in recognizing her as one of its most influential philanthropists in 2025.
“ I just give from my heart ,” Parton said as she accepted the Carnegie medal. “ I just see a need, and if I can fill it, then I will .”
Related: Dolly Parton tops list of global figures in US favorability poll
Mick Jagger wrote on X: “What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was. She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much.”
And second lady Usha Vance said: “As four-time subscribers to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and lifelong fans of her music, our family knows that Dolly Parton loved a good story. I hope that you’ll pick up a book and celebrate the magic of storytelling in her honor today.”
Former vice-president Kamala Harris said on X:
Dolly Parton was a true American icon. First introduced to the world as a ‘little girl from up in East Tennessee,’ she became a global superstar. Her career accolades included 11 Grammy awards, an Emmy, an honorary Oscar, and – my favorite – more than 300 million books sent to millions of children around the world through her Imagination Library. All at once she was kind, modest, and funny. With her music, her philanthropy, and her style, Dolly was one of one. Doug and I send our prayers to her family, friends, and all those who have been touched by her magic. We will always love you, Dolly.
Former president Bill Clinton shared this tribute:
Dolly Parton was one of a kind – a great songwriter and performer who told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart. She rose high from her East Tennessee roots and never forgot where she came from. And she always believed in giving back, especially in her efforts to promote literacy. Hillary and I were big fans and first saw her in 1974, and will always be grateful for the music and the memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, her legion of fans, and everyone who loved her.
New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani , said:
This is truly heartbreaking. Dolly Parton was an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable champion of the working class. We are a better country because of her.
Elton John paid tribute to Dolly Parton with this statement:
Shocked and devastated to hear of Dolly’s passing. A giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.
John also collaborated with Parton on her 2023 Rockstar album for a cover of his song Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me .
Paul McCartney has shared this tribute on Instagram:
The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman. I first met her in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry where she had been playing with the country star Porter Wagoner and was about to start her solo career. 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. 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.
He and fellow Beatle, Ringo Starr , collaborated with Parton on a cover of Let It Be on her 2023 album Rockstar.
The Grand Ole Opry, the concert hall in Nashville at the centre of country music, where Dolly Parton first performed at the age of 13, shared this statement on X:
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to a true country music icon, Opry member Dolly Parton.
There is no doubt Dolly’s mark on the world, and on us here at the Grand Ole Opry, will be deeply felt for generations to come. She taught us to always lead with kindness, generosity, and compassion. 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.
Longtime friend and fellow singer Patti LaBelle said she is “deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend who was loved by all”.
“Dolly’s artistry, brilliance, and extraordinary life inspired so many people, including me,” LaBelle said in a statement shared with CNN. “Her light will forever shine! I send my deepest condolences to all of her loved ones and fans all over the world!”
Dolly Parton musical still on track to open on Broadway early next year
Dolly: A True Original Musical , billed as “a remarkable journey through the life of this trailblazing woman”, is still set to begin previews at New York’s St James Theatre on 7 December before opening on 19 January – on what would have been her 81st birthday.
In a statement to Deadline , the show’s producers said: “As was Dolly’s wish, the Broadway production of Dolly: A True Original Musical will begin previews December 7 at the St James Theatre in New York City.”
In a video announcing the show last month, Parton promised that it would be “true in every sense of the word”.
“ This isn’t about a story about sparkle and shine on the outside ,” the singer said. “ It’s about where I really come from: where I’ve lived, what I’ve lost, what I’ve loved and how I’ve found my way and told it in my own words and through the music that’s been part of me every step of the journey. ”
She described the show coming to New York as “ a dream come true ”, adding that it would feature her best-loved hits as well as new songs penned for the production.
It was the passion project of Parton’s final years. She said in a press release on 7 July:
My whole life has been a musical. A grand ole opera really and I can’t wait to present it to you on Broadway. I hope you enjoy watching as much as I’ve enjoyed livin’ it.
The musical premiered in Nashville last summer with a sold-out run at the city’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.
Parton to have small, private funeral service for immediate family
Dolly Parton ’s funeral will be private and intimate, according to an official announcement on her X account.
“At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at http://dollyparton.com
“In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at http://imaginationlibrary.com ”
New York City’s Empire State Building in New York City will honour Dolly Parton tonight by turning the tower lights to a pink sparkle at 9.25pm ET, in a nod to her iconic song 9 to 5.
Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans. Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide.
At Nine-Two-Five tonight, we celebrate her and her legacy.
The Guardian reviewed one of Dolly Parton ’s earliest concerts in London, at Hammersmith, during her late-1970s international touring period, as she successfully transitioned from a country music career to mainstream pop and crossover success.
She performed new material, including Baby I’m Burning and Here You Come Again, as well as crowd-pleasing numbers such as Coat of Many Colors, My Tennessee Mountain Home and, of course, Jolene.
Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton shared this tribute:
Dolly Parton did all the good she could, for all the people she could, for as long as ever she could.
From her legendary songwriting to the Imagination Library, which sent 1 million books a month to children across the country, she was the best of America.
The organiser of Britain’s music festival juggernaut Glastonbury has also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, hailing her as “an untouchable legend”.
Emily Eavis recalled Parton’s 2014 performance at the festival after getting her to “finally” say yes, praising the star for “bringing her incredible songs, overflowing joy and wonderful spirit”.
Eavis added in a post on Instagram: “From the moment she arrived, she was an absolute delight, just so lovely. There was a vast crowd … she reigned supreme. It was just magic.”
The Guardian reviewed Parton’s performance. The review says Parton, dressed “a white, rhinestone-studded trouser suit (was that a glittery sporran at the front?), she strutted across every inch of the stage, cheering, hollering and clapping, leading the enraptured audience of more than a few impersonators through a solid hour of clap-alongs and sing-alongs.”
The review concludes: “Dolly Parton had 200,000 people in the palm of her manicured, rhinestone-studded hand. She said it best herself: it was corny, but it was fun.”
The singer and presenter Kelly Clarkson has paid tribute to Dolly Parton. Writing on X , she said Parton had “a way of making everyone feel special, and seen, and welcomed, and as if you were old friends. I will miss her heart and her voice as I am sure millions will. What an incredible gift and talent she was and still is with an amazing catalogue of art she has left behind for all of us.
Actor Colman Domingo also joined tributes, writing: “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.”
Broadway star Kristen Chenoweth reflected on meeting Parton “on several occasions and she always made me feel like one of her own”. She added: “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.”
Among those paying tribute were also actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Patricia Heaton .
Curtis called Dolly Parton “a great example to us all”, while Heaton said: “What a gift. What a loss.”
They were joined by hotel heiress Paris Hilton , who wrote on X: “Heartbroken to hear about Queen DollyParton’s passing. She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me. Her talent, heart and kindness touched so many lives, and she truly left this world better than she found it Sending all my love to her family, friends and everyone who loved her. Rest in peace, Dolly.”
Meghan McCain , TV personality and daughter of former senator John McCain, called Parton “an absolute American icon and legend”, adding: “There are almost no words to express what a loss this is for America, she was one of the few people who had the ability to unite and truly bring everyone together through her music art, light and spirit.”
Tributes continue to pour in – both from famous names and the country music star’s legion of fans around the world.
The volume of traffic to Parton’s official website has been so great it temporarily crashed.
Parton's funeral to be private family affair, report says
Meanwhile, CNN reports that Dolly Parton’s funeral will be held in private, with only immediate family attending.
The channel quoted a family statement as saying:
At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family.
Fans and friends were asked to leave tributes on social media and, instead of sending flowers, the family requested donations to Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton's best one-liners – the star in her own words
Dolly Parton was not only known for her music and film success – fans also came to admire her talent for zingy one-liners.
Here are some of her best, compiled by PA Media:
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
“I look like a woman, but I think like a man. I’ve done business with men who think I’m as silly as I look. By the time they realise I’m not, I’ve got the money and gone.”
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.”
“My weaknesses have always been food and men – in that order.”
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
“If I see something saggin’, baggin’ or draggin’, I’m gonna have it nipped, tucked or sucked!”
“I was the first woman to burn my bra – it took the fire department four days to put it out.”
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
“You gotta keep trying to find your niche and trying to fit into whatever slot that’s left for you or to make one of your own.”
Video: Dolly Parton's family announce death and pay tribute
If you missed it earlier, you can watch the announcement of Dolly Parton’s death by her nephew here:
The Guardian’s Owen Myers and Benjamin Lee have rounded up some of the famous names who have paid tribute in the hours since Dolly Parton’s death was first shared publicly.
Related: Celebrity tributes pour in for Dolly Parton: ‘a gift to the world’
Dionne Warwick pays tribute: 'My heart is heavy'
Music legend Dionne Warwick has joined public figures paying tribute to Dolly Parton. The pair collaborated on the duet Peace Like a River, which was released in 2023.
Writing on X, Warwick posted a photo of the two from the music video shoot for the song. She said:
I will certainly miss her laugher, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend. My heart is heavy.
The news of Dolly Parton’s passing is devastating. I had the extraordinary experience of working with her on The Orville, and it was a joy to discover that she really was exactly the person we all hoped she was. 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.
Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum , said:
Dolly Parton’s legacy is not celebrity, but humanity. She came from poverty to become the most important native of Tennessee. She shared her fortunes for the good of all of us, and shared her soul in every note she sang.
Jeff Bezos , who donated $100m to the Dollywood Foundation in 2022, shared this tribute:
Dolly spent her whole life showing us what it means to lead with love. Lauren and I are so grateful to have known her. She lifted everyone with her music, her generosity, and her joy. Sending our sincere condolences to her family and everyone she touched.
Dolly Parton’s music helped light up the world. She was a brilliant songwriter, cultural icon, and dedicated philanthropist who helped instill a love of reading and learning in millions of children around the world. May she rest in peace.
In a statement, Julia Roberts who starred alongside Parton in 1989’s Steel Magnolias, wrote: “Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.”
Actor James Woods , who starred with Parton in the 1992 movie Straight Talk, wrote on X: “Heaven has found its voice. Rest in His arms, angel. #RipDollyParton”
Lily Tomlin , Parton’s co-star in the 1980 film 9 to 5 , posted a black-and-white picture of the two of them decades earlier on Instagram, captioning it simply: “No words.”
Actor Henry Winkler wrote on X: “What a sad day for America what a sad day for the world what a sad day for the Parton family. Dolly! We will miss you in more ways than one can say you were a treasure on this earth.”
'You gave so much with your huge heart': Reba McEntire pays tribute to 'my buddy Dolly'
Parton’s longtime friend and fellow country music icon Reba McEntire has shared this tribute on Instagram.
Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side.
Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth.
Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.
We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang.
She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her.
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.
Fellow country singer Kacey Musgraves shared three posts on X reacting to the news of Parton’s death.
In the first, she wrote: “Dolly. This really really hurts.”
In the second, Musgraves added: “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”
And finally: “So glad she’s with her Carl Dean . No one talk to me today.”
A number of US lawmakers from both parties honored Parton in tribute posts. Marsha Blackburn , a Republican senator from Parton’s home state of Tennessee, said that the singer-songwriter’s death “leaves a void that no one can ever fill. Dolly, we will always love you.”
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders , the independent senator from Vermont, noted that Parton “was not only a talented musician” but also “a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief”.
He added: “Her music and humanity touched millions. She will be sorely missed.”
Our picture editors have collated Dolly Parton ’s life in pictures:
Related: Dolly Parton – a life in pictures
In the UK, top radio presenter Jo Whiley introduced her BBC Radio 2 evening show by playing I Will Always Love You , Jolene and 9 to 5 in tribute to Dolly Parton after her death was announced in the 7pm news headlines.
Whiley said she was “taken aback” by the news and “so sad”, adding that Parton’s 2014 Glastonbury legends slot was “one of the most incredible performances”.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that field fuller,” Whiley said, adding that she interviewed Parton at the festival and recalled: “She was so kind and so lovely.”
'A true loss for millions of people': Trump says US flags will be lowered tonight for a week for Parton
Donald Trump has this tribute, that he shared just now on his Truth Social platform:
Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.
A $1m donation by Dolly Parton to coronavirus vaccine research supported the development of the Moderna vaccine .
In a video showing her being inoculated with the jab that she helped to fund, Parton broke into song, adapting one of her best-known songs, Jolene, to encourages others to get vaccinated.
Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you, please don’t hesitate.
Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.
Parton's much-cherished philanthropic work - at a glance
Alongside her music and acting, Dolly Parton was an astute businesswoman and much cherished for her philanthropy.
She founded the film and TV production company Sandollar , with former manager Sandy Gallin, which went on to produce hits such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Father of the Bride film series. In 1986, she took a stake in the Silver Dollar City theme park in Tennessee and renamed it Dollywood , doubling its size over the next two decades, and a Dollywood-branded spa, cabin complex, theatre-restaurant concept and waterpark have since been opened.
The Dollywood Foundation , funded through these business ventures and creative projects, was created in 1988, initially awarding college scholarships and running a scheme to help children complete high school in her native Sevier County, Tennessee . In 1995 Parton began her Imagination Library project, which sent an age-appropriate book to every child in the county every month until they were five . “My father could not read and write, and I saw how crippling that could be,” she explained. It expanded nationwide in 2000, internationally in 2006, and nearly 25m books are now distributed each year across the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Ireland .
In 2022, Jeff Bezos donated $100m (£83m) to the foundation. That year, Parton explained that as well as improving child literacy, “it’s the fact they get recognised. They get this little book with their little name on it in the mail, and they feel special. They start taking pride in themselves, and they know that somebody out there is thinking of [them].”
Parton has also set up a reserve in 2003 to help preserve the bald eagle ; contributed $500,000 to the opening of a Sevier county hospital in 2006 ; coordinated relief efforts for those affected by the Smoky mountain wildfires of 2016 ; and contributed to an HIV/Aids charity album . She supported Black Lives Matter and transgender rights , opposing a North Carolina “bathroom bill” that restricted transgender people’s access to toilets (Parton was also nominated for an Oscar for her song in trans drama Transamerica, entitled Travelin’ Thru).
She made a number of donations to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where her niece was treated for leukaemia. The most high profile of these was in 2020, when she donated $1m for research into Covid-19, which formed the basis for the eventual Moderna vaccine .
Parton's death follows recent health issues and death of husband Carl Dean
Her death comes days after Dolly Parton shared an update on her health last Friday, acknowledging her recent decline after the death of her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean , in March last year.
“ As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early 80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told People .
She added: “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me – as I’ve often said – I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life. ”
In May, Parton cancelled her Las Vegas residency over health issues. A Broadway musical is also set to open later this year after a run in Nashville.
Dolly Parton was born in poverty in a one-room cabin in Tennessee , the fourth child to a mother who would have 12 children by the age of 35, and a father who was a farmer and construction worker. One of her best-loved songs, Coat of Many Colours , was about her mother creating patchwork clothes; Parton’s first guitar was cobbled together from a mandolin with bass guitar strings. Her first proper guitar was given to her aged eight by her uncle, and she went from singing in church, to appearing on local television aged 10, to cutting her first record aged 13. That year she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, the concert hall in Nashville at the centre of country music, and her performance was introduced by Johnny Cash . She later said:
I’ve always believed things would go well, and I dreamed that they would even before I was in high school. I always wanted to be a star. It just seemed natural to me.
After graduating high school in 1964 she moved to Nashville and started out as a songwriter rather than performer. The following year she was signed as an artist and initially moulded as a pop singer, without success; after she was allowed to switch to country, she scored back-to-back hits and released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly . In 1966 she married Carl Dean – who died in 2025, with the couple renewing their vows in 2016 to mark 50 years together.
Beginning in 1967, a duet partnership with country singer and TV personality Porter Wagoner helped her star continue to ascend, and she had her first country No 1 in 1971 with the song Joshua .
Jolene , her unforgettably raw and desperate plea to a rival lover, was released in 1973 and became her first UK success, reaching No 7. I Will Always Love You , written to Wagoner as a farewell after their creative partnership, was a country No 1 in 1974 and again via a rerecorded version in 1982, and would go on to be a huge pop success when revived by Whitney Houston for the soundtrack of The Bodyguard in 1992: it is still the bestselling single of all time by a woman, with an estimated 20m sales .
In the mid 1970s Parton broadened her sound, embracing pop-rock arrangements on songs such as 1977’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning – its accompanying album New Harvest … First Gathering was her first entry in the pop album chart. Later that year its follow-up Here You Come Again reached the Top 20 and was her first million-selling LP, powered in part by its hit title track, which also won Parton the first of her 10 Grammy awards .
1980 was a peak in her success, with three back-to-back country No 1s, including 9 to 5 , taken from the film of the same name which Parton starred in alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin , earning her an Oscar nomination for best original song . Parton would later write songs for a stage musical version of 9 to 5, in 2008.
Another classic single came in 1983: Islands in the Stream , a duet with Kenny Rogers , which topped the US pop charts, and a Christmas album with Rogers in 1984 went two times platinum. There were more notable film roles in the 1980s, too, opposite Burt Reynolds in the The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas , Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone and an all-star female ensemble in Steel Magnolias .
A landmark Parton album came in 1987 with Trio , an exquisitely harmonised, springwater-clear collaboration with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt , earning Parton her only nomination for album of the year at the Grammys. Another all-star trio recording came in 1993, with Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn on the album Honky-Tonk Angels , followed by a reunion with Harris and Ronstadt from Trio II in 1999, featuring a Grammy-winning cover of Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush .
The turn of the century brought a trilogy of acclaimed bluegrass albums, and Parton would release nine more LPs, the most recent being Rockstar in 2023. She was courted by a younger generation of stars, appearing with country artists such as Brad Paisley as well as pop singers such as Kesha , and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus . There were fewer acting roles, but she lent her voice to animated film Gnomeo and Juliet in 2011 and the following year appeared alongside Queen Latifah and more in musical film Joyful Noise .
Dolly Parton , one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80.
So gifted that she wrote two of the 20th century’s greatest songs – Jolene and I Will Always Love You – in a single day, Parton’s songwriting was characterised by its vivid storytelling, emotional acuity and melodic strength, all sung with strident clarity. From an eventual catalogue of hundreds of songs, she scored a record 25 US country No 1 singles and 47 albums in the country Top 10 . She crossed over into the pop charts with 9 to 5, a US No 1 in 1980 ; balanced her music career with acclaimed acting, twice earning Golden Globe nominations for her roles; and her Imagination Library literacy scheme donated more than 150m books to children.
This was all done with considerable panache, rhinestoned glamour and towering hairdos, with her immortal assertion regarding her appearance – “ it takes a lot of money to look this cheap ” – the most quoted example of Parton’s ready wit.
Appreciation: Parton's peerless career turned country music cliches inside out
Beneath the wig and rhinestones, Dolly Parton was the genius behind strings of classic songs from Jolene to I Will Always Love You that continue to inspire new artists, writes Guardian music critic Alexis Petridis. You can read his tribute here.
Related: Dolly Parton’s peerless career turned country music cliches inside out
Dolly Parton has died aged 80, her family announces
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family has announced.
In a video posted to Parton’s X account 15 minutes ago, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the death of his aunt, for whom he acted as head of security.
This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.
As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father, Larry, held before me. I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now. It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.
But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.
I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s. Dolly opened doors not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible. Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.
My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist becoming an extended part of your family, whether you liked it or not. Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us for ever.
Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil; she farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.
Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly, Aunt Granny. Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton and may God bless you all. She will always love you.
Celine Dion has paid tribute to Dolly Parton , writing on Instagram: “Dolly… you were pure light, with a kind heart and a generous spirit.
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Kate Lamb (now); Lucy Campbell and Fran Lawther (earlier). Published 26 Aug 2026, 04:01 am.
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