Music icon Dolly Parton remembered by fans around the world

Musicians, actors and more pay tribute to country icon Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton, country music legend, dies at 80

When bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent got a voicemail from Dolly Parton in 1992 inviting her to sing harmonies on her new album, she thought it was a prank.

"But I called the number back and it was actually Dolly," Vincent told CBC Radio's As It Happens. "I found myself in the studio with Dolly the very next day at 10 a.m."

Vincent came to see Parton as a collaborator, mentor and friend. She says she learned a lot of lessons from the country icon over the years. But one, in particular, stands out.

"She had this beautiful — Lord knows how much it cost — beautiful bag that she was carrying, and she reached in and she pulled out a Ziploc bag full of makeup," Vincent said.

Parton explained that she had all kinds of fancy purses, but she could never find anything in them.

"So she put all of her makeup in a Ziploc bag and then put it inside the real fancy bag," she said. "And I've been doing that ever since."

It was classic Parton. Despite being a household name, Vincent says Parton never let fame go to her head.

"She could have been anything — a diva, not talk to people. But she was so friendly and so down to Earth," Vincent said. "What you see is what you get."

Parton supported numerous charitable causes throughout her career.

Many efforts through her Dollywood Foundation were in support of literacy, in honour of her father and other relatives who were illiterate. Her Imagination Library initiative has provided more than 304 million books to children.

She donated to medical centres and aided relief efforts for disasters, including the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires and 2024's Hurricane Helene, and was honoured for her work to preserve the bald eagle.

She also gave to HIV/AIDS-related charities and was known for celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

In 2020, she donated $1 million US toward early research for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Parton was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022 for her longstanding dedication to charitable work.

Graham Hnatiw and his brother built an entire bar in Toronto around Parton’s persona. But Dolly's Country Bar, they say, is more than a bar. It's a place to belong.

"We couldn't think of a better way to represent a roomful of people," Hnatiw said in an interview with CBC's Andrew Nichols. "The generosity, the warmth, the hospitality — making everyone feel welcome was part of our inspiration for the space."

He also pointed to Parton’s philanthropic work with Imagination Library and how she has given back so much to her Tennessee community through her theme park, Dollywood.

Hnatiw says the bar will hold a memorial tribute to Parton in the coming days with all proceeds going to Imagination Library.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Colman Domingo, Julia Roberts and more stars were among those mourning the late country music icon Tuesday.

Curtis shared a photo of herself with Parton on Instagram, writing: “They say don’t meet your heroes. They were wrong about her.”

The Everything Everywhere All at Once star said Parton was “a great example for us all.”

Actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth also shared a heartfelt message alongside a photo of herself with the late 9 to 5 star on Instagram, writing “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.” Chenoweth said Parton had agreed to sing with her on one of her records, calling the country music legend her “ultimate inspiration.”

Actor Domingo wrote on X, “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.”

Julia Roberts, who starred alongside Parton in Steel Magnolias, also remembered her former co-star in a statement released to Variety: “Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.”

Meanwhile, reality TV stars were also among those honouring Parton.

Paris Hilton shared a photo with Parton on X, writing in part, “Heartbroken to hear about Queen @DollyParton’s passing. She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me.”

Khloe Kardashian shared a tribute on her Instagram stories, writing in part, “Some people are extraordinary, their existence feels almost impossible. Dolly was one of those people. A once-in-a-lifetime soul.”

Actor Jane Fonda, who starred alongside Parton in the 1980 comedy film 9 to 5, wrote a long tribute on Instagram.

“Let’s be grateful for all that she has left us to ease our sadness now."

Fonda remembered Parton as naughty and playful, but also as a deep and soulful thinker. "She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy."

Fonda included a special message to Parton's gay and trans fans, telling them the icon loved them and wouldn't want them to mourn. "Dress up and celebrate her spirit," Fonda wrote.

She also highlighted what she called Parton's "survivor’s instinct," writing that she "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 wrote, too, that Parton would "never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard they’d have to cross their legs."

Dionne Warwick, who collaborated with Dolly Parton in 2023 on a gospel recording of Peace Like a River, said her heart is heavy with the news of Parton's death.

In a social media post, she said she will miss her friend's "laughter, jokes and her being."

Dolly Parton 'one of the great incubators of joy': Variety editor

Marc Malkin, senior culture and events editor at Variety, shared his memories of country star Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80, recalling an inspiring, funny and down-to-earth artist and philanthropist. 'We just lost one of the great incubators of joy," he said.

"Everyone is heartbroken," Variety's senior culture and events editor Marc Malkin told CBC News Network.

"Dolly Parton was an icon, a legend, a poet, an artist, a philanthropist. She was a giver — she gave joy, absolute joy. Dolly means so much to me."

Malkin, who met Parton numerous times, got emotional talking about her.

"She was so real. This woman was so down to earth," he said.

Fellow country superstar Keith Urban was among those mourning the singer’s death, taking to his Instagram stories to share his raw reaction: “heartbroken today. Dolly Parton 💔 honestly…I have no words right now.”

A longtime admirer of Parton, Urban specifically requested that the country music legend induct him into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2023, according to American Songwriter. During the ceremony, the Somebody Like You singer proudly displayed an “In Dolly We Trust” sticker on the podium.

"It’s difficult to imagine Music City without Dolly Parton," Nashville posted on its visitmusiccity social media account.

It said she came to Nashville with a dream and went on to share "her music, her heart, and her unmistakable spirit with the world."

Nashville meant a lot to Parton, too. The post goes on to quote her talking about the city when she was inducted into the #MusicCityWalkOfFame in 2009: “It strikes me in a pure place in my heart and in my soul to know that I am part of this wonderful city.”

Calling hers a "rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see," Dolly Parton's family said in a tribute on social media that she will be remembered as an inspiration, not just for her music and songwriting, but also "her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience.”

Dolly Parton was also a philanthropist, founding the Imagination Library, which provided books to hundreds of thousands of children around the world.

Though her family plans a small, private service, as she requested, they encouraged fans to donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in lieu of flowers, at www.imaginationlibrary.com.