Tributes are pouring in for Dolly Parton following the news of her death on Tuesday in Nashville at age 80. From Hollywood legends to country superstars, figures across the entertainment industry are sharing personal memories and celebrating her iconic musical and humanitarian legacy.
Fellow country singer Reba McEntire posted, “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.”
Paul McCartney recalled meeting Parton for the first time and wrote of the legacy she leaves behind saying, “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.”
Blake Shelton wrote being with Parton was, “like being with the funnest, most loving, most caring and closest member of your family.”
Reese Witherspoon recalled words of encouragement Parton passed along to her, writing, “Your talent, your wisdom and your beautiful spirit lit up our lives.”
Her former 9 to 5 costar Jane Fonda wrote, “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.
While Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute writing: “They say don’t meet your heroes. They were wrong about her.”
Sally Field wrote: ” I adored her with all my heart and will always cherish our time together.”
GLAAD’s President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis issued a statement writing:
“Dolly Parton was not only the ‘Queen of Country Music’, but indeed the queen of inclusivity and philanthropy. Her support for LGBTQ people spans decades, from the 1990s with her track ‘Family,’ where she expressed that all should be welcome regardless of religion or sexual orientation; to the powerful ballad “Travelin’ Thru,” which Parton penned for the film “TransAmerica” and earned her an Oscar nomination; to her early support of marriage equality in 2009, well before its legalization. Parton’s warm spirit, kindheartedness and joie de vivre deeply resonated with the LGBTQ community, cementing her as a global queer icon whose art always held space for outsiders, no matter the risk. Parton’s entire career was built on love and respect for all, and her unwavering allyship is a legacy that will last forever.”
