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Dolly Parton Dies at 80: Jane Fonda, Oprah Winfrey and More Stars Pay Tribute
Barbra Streisand called her ‘a true force of nature’
Celebrities are paying tribute to Dolly Parton after the country music star’s death at 80.
Theo Wargo/WireImage/Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Dolly Parton has died at 80, her family announced Aug. 25.
- Colman Domingo, Jamie Lee Curtis, Oprah Winfrey and Sir Elton John were among the many celebrities who paid tribute to the singer-songwriter.
- Parton had 25 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart during a career that spanned more than six decades.
Dolly Parton, the country music superstar behind “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5,” has died. She was 80.
Parton’s family announced her death on Aug. 25 in a video shared on her social media pages. A statement from her publicist to the Associated Press said Parton died after a “brief battle with cancer.”
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Over a career that stretched more than six decades, Parton released 49 studio albums and scored 25 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, the most by a female country artist. Her hits spanned generations, from “Joshua” in 1971 to her 2024 collaboration with Beyoncé on “Tyrant.”
Celebrities began paying tribute after her family announced her death.
Oprah Winfrey: The media mogul shared a glamorous photo of herself with Parton. “One of my fondest memories with @dollyparton: Having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly. This girl from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee dreamed a life and then lived a life bigger than she could have ever imagined, giving so generously to others in ways we saw and ways we didn’t. No one like her. She brought the life, and we are all better because she was here.”
Jane Fonda: Parton’s 9 to 5 costar said she was devastated when she heard the news. “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’s [sic] stick her butt out the car window and moon Kenny Rogers’ home. She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy.”
Barbra Streisand: The singer called Parton “a true force of nature.”
Mick Jagger: The Rolling Stones singer remembered Parton as “a wonderful songwriter and singer ... She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much.”
Sally Field: Parton’s Steel Magnolias costar wrote that “if there are truly angels on earth, then we have just lost one. Dolly Parton. There will never be another. I adored her with all my heart and will always cherish our time together. Forever. Rest in peace beautiful Dolly.”
Sir Paul McCartney: The singer shared a 1974 group photo that included him and Parton. “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.”
Linda Ronstadt: The singer wrote on Facebook that she was “deeply saddened” by Parton’s death. “One of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life was recording with her.”
Sir Elton John: The singer called Parton “a giant of an artist — unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.”
Sheryl Crow: The singer, who posted that she did not know Parton well, called her “a loving and compassionate human being, led by goodness in all she did. I will miss knowing she is on the planet but she will never be far away.”
Jamie Lee Curtis: The actor posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Parton. “They say don’t meet your heroes. They were wrong about her.... She is a great example for us all.”
Bette Midler: The entertainer praised Parton’s “voice of pure gold and a heart to match. What a terrible, terrible loss.”
Carol Burnett: The comedian and actor shared a photo of her and Parton performing together. “I’m so sad right now. One of my favorite memories was taping the special Carol and Dolly in Nashville. We shot the week of Thanksgiving and Dolly made individual turkey dinners for every one of us, that she cooked herself. We were a family. That’s who she was,” she wrote.
Colman Domingo: The actor shared his thoughts 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.”
Lily Tomlin: Parton’s 9 to 5 costar kept it brief in an Instagram post that simply said “No words…💔”
Reba McEntire: The country singer paid tribute to Parton on Instagram. “Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart. There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang. Thank you, Lord, for Dolly. 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.”
Henry Winkler: The Happy Days actor paid tribute to the singer 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.
Leslie Mann: The actor commented on the Instagram announcement of Parton’s death: “Thank you, Dolly! You made the world a better place❤️”
Selma Blair: The actor also commented on the announcement about Parton. “Nobody did it better. So greatly loved. So greatly missed forever.”
Jenna Bush Hager: The Today cohost joined the tributes on Parton’s Instagram account, in the comments under the announcement. “The best there ever was,” she wrote.
Pedro Pascal: The actor called her “one of one” in an Instagram post.
Josh Gad: The Frozen actor posted a tribute on Facebook. “This one just hurts too much,” he wrote. “We have already lost too many of our 20th century musical greats, but today we lost one of our all-time greats.” He closed with: “RIP Dolly. You are loved.”
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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