The music icon, who was known for timeless hits including ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Jolene,’ wrote more than 3,000 songs across her illustrious career
Tributes are pouring in for Dolly Parton after the country music legend died at 80 following a “brief battle” with cancer.
Taylor Swift was among those remembering Parton, describing her as “the gift that kept on giving” and saying her legacy would be “an everlasting one”. Beyoncé, who worked with Parton on her Cowboy Carter album, called her “the barometer” and “the North Star”.
Fellow country singer Reba McEntire wrote: “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.”
Paul McCartney also remembered Parton, saying her songwriting, singing, and philanthropy were “unrivaled in the world of country music”.
Paul McCartney remembers Dolly Parton as a ‘magnificent star’
Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, remembering the first time they met in Nashville in 1974.
“The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad,” McCartney wrote alongside photographs from their first meeting. He remembered meeting Parton while she was performing at the Grand Ole Opry with Porter Wagoner.
Their paths crossed again in 2023, when Parton asked McCartney and Ringo Starr to join her version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” for her album Rockstar. McCartney later said of the request: “If Dolly’s asking me to do it, how can I say no?”
In his tribute, McCartney wrote that Parton’s songwriting, singing, and philanthropy were “unrivaled in the world of country music”, adding: “It is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly.”
He ended: “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.”
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 06:56
In pictures: Dolly Parton’s home state mourns its beloved star
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 06:30
Bill Clinton remembers Dolly Parton as ‘one of a kind’
Former US president Bill Clinton has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, recalling that he and Hillary Clinton were longtime fans and first saw her perform in 1974.
“Dolly Parton was one of a kind – a great songwriter and performer who told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart,” Clinton wrote. “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.”
Hillary’s fondness for Parton has been widely known since 1995, when she celebrated her 48th birthday with a Dolly-themed hoedown at the White House, wearing a blonde wig and Western clothes.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 06:15
‘Rest easy, Dolly’: Tom Jones remembers country music icon
Tom Jones has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, describing her as “a wonderful and generous person” whose loss has left “a great emptiness”.
“Dolly was a one of a kind, altruistic, down to earth, musical genius,” Jones, who rose to international fame with hits like “It’s Not Unusual” and “Delilah”, wrote. “She had an angelic but powerful voice with vast influence on generations to come.”
The pair shared a musical connection dating back to the 1980s. Parton appeared on her television variety series Dolly in 1987-88, where she joined Jones for a performance of his signature song “Green, Green Grass of Home”.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 06:00
Usha Vance urges families to pick up a book in Dolly Parton’s honour
US second lady Usha Vance has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, revealing that her family has been a four-time subscriber to the singer’s Imagination Library.
“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,” Vance wrote on X.
Vance, the wife of vice president JD Vance, wrote: “I hope that you’ll pick up a book and celebrate the magic of storytelling in her honour today.”
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995, inspired by her father’s struggles with literacy. The programme provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to five, regardless of their family’s income, and has distributed hundreds of millions of books worldwide.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:50
‘Rest easy, Dolly’: Don King pays tribute to Dolly Parton
Boxing promoter Don King has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, describing the country music icon as a “dear friend” following her death at 80.
“I love Dolly Parton. She was a dear friend. She’d be greatly missed here on earth, but she’d be eternally remembered spiritually,” King said. He ended his message: “Rest easy, Dolly, and keep a light in the window for me.”
King, 95, is one of boxing’s most famous and controversial promoters, having staged major fights including Muhammad Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila”.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:40
Filmmaker Morgan J Freeman praises Dolly Parton’s legacy of ‘kindness’ and giving
Filmmaker and television producer Morgan J Freeman has remembered Dolly Parton as someone who believed in bringing people together rather than dividing them along political lines.
“Dolly Parton never wanted us fighting over whether she was red or blue. She wanted us to ALL be Americans,” Freeman wrote.
He pointed to the causes that defined much of Parton’s work, including children’s literacy and helping people in need. “Success means giving something back,” he wrote, adding: “Kindness doesn’t require a party affiliation.”
Freeman, who directed Hurricane Streets and has produced television shows including Laguna Beach and Teen Mom, ended by urging people to honour Parton by creating a society that is “Kinder. More generous. Less judgmental. And looking out for one another.”
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:30
Joan Jett remembers Dolly Parton as ‘a musical genius’
Joan Jett has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, describing the country icon as “a one of a kind, altruistic, down to earth, musical genius”.
“Working with her was one of the highlights of my career,” Jett wrote in a tribute shared on social media.
The pair worked together on Parton’s 2023 rock album Rockstar, with Parton covering Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ 1988 hit “I Hate Myself for Loving You”. Jett joined Parton on vocals for the track, which appeared on Parton’s first full-length rock album.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:20
‘The work ahead has never felt more meaningful’: Dolly Parton’s literacy programme pays tribute
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has vowed to continue the singer’s work following her death, saying her vision was always to build something that would “last for generations”.
It recalled how proud Parton was of the programme, particularly because of its connection to her father, quoting her as saying: “My Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done.”
In a statement, the organisation said: “The world grieves with us today. And yet we find ourselves just as certain about what comes next. For decades, Dolly & the team at The Dollywood Foundation – home of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – worked to build something that would last for generations. So it will.
“The work ahead has never felt more meaningful, and we will carry it forward as she lifts us all up. Dolly, we will always love you.”
Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write. The programme sends one free, age-appropriate book every month to children from birth to five, regardless of family income. It has since expanded across the US, Canada, UK, Australia and Ireland, gifting millions of books each month.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:10
‘One of the greatest talents’: Lloyd Webber mourns Dolly Parton
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, recalling the “incredibly special” time they spent together discussing songwriting.
“Farewell dear Dolly,” Lloyd Webber wrote on X. “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.”
Parton and Lloyd Webber were among the five recipients of the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors, which recognised their contributions to American culture. They attended the Washington ceremony together, where Parton was honoured for her work as a singer, songwriter and performer, while Lloyd Webber was recognised for his musical theatre career.
Shahana Yasmin26 August 2026 05:00
Source: Independence.co.uk
Stay ahead with the latest updates!
Join The Podium Media on WhatsApp for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
Chat with Us on WhatsApp
