Mourners pay their respects to Dolly Parton after the announcement of her passing, at the Dolly Parton Statue in downtown Sevierville, Tennessee, US. Photograph: Kevin Fogarty/Reuters
A classic number plate.
People leave flowers and memorabilia at the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of singer and actress Dolly Parton following her death. Photograph: Chris Torres/EPA
People gathered at the Dolly Parton statue.
James A. Gambrell, a former chef at Dollywood, touches the Dolly Parton statue in downtown Sevierville, Tennessee. Photograph: Dylan Lovan/AP
JadAbumrad, 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.
Dolly Parton displays a pin on her jacket. Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP
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”.
Beyoncé 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.
Dolly Parton and Joan Rivers during Sandy Gallin's Christmas Party at Sandy Gallin's Home in Beverly Hills, California, United States, 18 December 1988. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
A look at Dolly Parton, through her most memorable quotes.
On positivity:
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
A wand with a star is placed over Dolly Parton's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after the news of her death, in Los Angeles. Photograph: Chris Pizzello/AP
On her career:
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
On her looks:
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.”
On relationships:
“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.”
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 DollyPartonfestival, 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.
Australia’s first Dolly Parton festival in Narromine, central west NSW, Australia, on 1 October 2022. Photograph: Julia Gardiner/PR IMAGE
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.”
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.”
The White House has lowered its flag to half-mast in honour of Dolly Parton.
A red-tailed hawk sits on the eagle atop the flag pole above the White House as it is lowered to half-mast in honour of Dolly Parton. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
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.
On X he said:
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.
Dolly Parton, left, and Miley Cyrus perform Jolene at the 61st annual Grammy awards in Los Angeles on 10 February 2019. Photograph: Matt Sayles/AP
He said:
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.
Writing on X, she said:
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.”
From left: Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson and Andrew Lloyd Webber receive Kennedy Center honors for contributions to American culture in December 2006. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP