Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Elton John and many more have paid tribute to Dolly Parton following news of her death.
READ MORE: Dolly Parton, 1946-2026: the Queen of Country was a unifying force in a divided world
The death of the music icon was announced yesterday (Tuesday August 25). In the update, the singer’s team shared that the 80-year-old died following “a brief battle with cancer”.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” they added. “Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand.
Parton had spoken publicly about her health in recent months, and in an update published last week, she opened up about dealing with issues she had neglected while caring for her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, before his death last year.
Countless tributes have poured in for the ‘Jolene’ singer since the news broke, including from fans, fellow musicians, actors and more.
Sharing two images of them together, Paul McCartney described Parton as a “wonderful woman”. “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,” he added. “She was a very clever business woman who understood the value of her music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world”.
Taylor Swift shared a similar sentiment, describing the singer as a “gift that kept on giving” and “someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals”.
“She was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist,” Swift added. The two of them first met in 2010, and early this year Swift and her husband Travis Kelce donated millions to Parton’s Imagination Library (via Consequence).
Others paying tribute include Mick Jagger who described how she “brought so many people together”, Garbage who called her “a true gift to humanity and the very best of us”, Brandi Carlile who recalled her powerful set at Glastonbury 2014, and Dionne Warwick who shared: “I will certainly miss her laugher, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend. My heart is heavy.”
Cyndi Lauper shared that it is “hard for me to imagine the world without Dolly”, Reba McEntire said that she will “never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation”, and Joan Jett described Dolly as a “one of a kind, altruistic, down to earth, musical genius”. Elton John also wrote a message which read: “Shocked and devastated to hear of Dolly’s passing. A giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart”.
Others to pay tribute include Oprah, Barbra Streisand, Jack White, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kelly Clarkson, Debbie Harry, Shania Twain, Barack Obama, Beyonce and more.
Jane Fonda, who worked with Parton on the 1980 comedy 9 To 5 said that she was “devastated” by the news. “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 added.
“She was many things…lyricist, songstress, player of many instruments, writer, prankster, visionary, loyal friend, who’d never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard they’d have to cross their legs… She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy. That’s something of hers she’d want us all to take with us.”
Sabrina Carpenter – who teamed up with the country icon for a new version of her song ‘Please Please Please’ earlier this year – shared: “I will cherish our laughter and conversations and I will keep your wisdom, your playful outlook on life, and perfect sense of humour in my pocket for the rainy days.
“There will never be another you and how lucky are we all to have experienced your singular magic as well as your once in a lifetime voice, songs, and heart.”
Julia Roberts, who starred alongside Parton in 1989’s Steel Magnolias, told Variety: “Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.”
Elsewhere, Eminem shared a touching letter he received from Parton after being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, and wrote in the caption: “I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had 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.”
I will certainly miss her laugher, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend. My heart is heavy. pic.twitter.com/4sVARNLX0z
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) August 25, 2026
— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) August 25, 2026
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… https://t.co/gl4KGm4vnk
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 25, 2026
As well as her music, Dolly Parton was known for her philanthropy, and her Imagination Library helped provide 300 million books to children around the world. She has also donated considerable sums of money to those affected by Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters, and also to help fund vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, she made her first public appearance in several months, delivering a keynote speech at Dollywood. “I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over [late husband] Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” she said. “I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
The NME obituary for Parton concludes: “As we all reel from Dolly Parton’s death, that glorious 2014 Glastonbury set may prove a balm. Introducing ‘Coat Of Many Colors’, her 1971 country hit about a patchwork coat sewn by her mother, this humble ‘farmer’s daughter’ paid tribute to her family’s love and resilience. Resplendent in her rhinestone suit, she embodied both qualities as a unifying icon. The world has become more divided since that set, but everyone will always love Dolly.”
The post Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Elton John and more pay tribute to Dolly Parton: “a one of a kind, altruistic, down to earth, musical genius” appeared first on NME.
