Paris Hilton, Oprah, and Jamie Lee Curtis lead Hollywood tributes to ‘legend’ Dolly Parton following her death at 80: ‘One of the greatest this country ever produced’
Celebrity tributes have poured in for country music icon Dolly Parton following her death age 80.
The legendary country singer’s passing was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, prompting an outpouring of love from America’s A-list.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Oprah, Sarah Jessica Parker and Pedro Pascal were among the first big names to post.
Khloe Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Reba McEntire, Zoe Saldana and Hugh Jackman also took to social media to express their shock and sadness over Parton’s death.
The music icon also counted admirers outside of Hollywood, with politicians and media heavyweights also sharing their condolences.
Curtis shared a photo to Instagram that showed herself cuddled up with Parton. She captioned: ‘They say don’t meet your heroes. Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all.’
Curtis shared a photo to Instagram that showed herself cuddled up with Parton
Paris Hilton paid tribute to Parton, describing her as an ‘icon’ and ‘inspiration’
The Jolene singer had many A-list admirers, some of whom she had gone on to forge close friendships with
Oprah shared a snap of she and Parton together on set of the country legend’s variety show Dolly which aired in an 197.
The media mogul posted a sweet caption which read: ‘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 light, and we are all better because she was here.
‘God bless you, Dolly—you earned your wings [wings emoji]’
Hilton also shared a snap of herself alongside Parton with a sweet caption which read: ‘Heartbroken to hear about Queen @dollyparton’s passing [crying and heartbroken emojis] She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me.
‘Her talent, heart and kindess touched so many lives, and she truly felt left this world better than she found it [tears welling up in eyes while smiling and sparkle emojis] Sending all my love to her family, friends, and everyone who loved her. Rest in peace, Dolly [white heart and dove emojis]’
Lauren Sanchez, who is the wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, also took to Instagram to share a snap of herself posing up with the music legend.
Oprah shared a sweet tribute as they posed up in Bob Mackie gowns
Fellow country star Reba McEntire shared this sweet tribute
Lauren Sanchez, who is the wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, also took to Instagram to share a snap of herself posing up with the music legend
Iconic fashion designer Bob Mackie shared a sweet post of Parton in one of his creations
Sarah Jessica Parker posted a poignant message shortly after Parton’s passing was made public by her family
Fellow legend Barbra Streisand also shared a tribute
Sally Field shared a snap of the cast of Steel Magnolias including Parton, Julia Roberts, and Shirley MacLaine
She captioned the image on Instagram: ‘Dolly is gone and my heart is so broken. I grew up on her music. I knew every song by heart. I still do. She was there for the best days of my life and the worst ones, and she never even knew it. That’s what she did for millions of us.
Then I got to know her, and somehow she was more than the legend. She gave our Courage and Civility award its meaning, not the other way around. She said she’d always tried to put her money where her heart is.
The Fight Club actress continued: ‘Her heart was with kids. It always was. Free books in the mail to children who had none, month after month, for thirty years, because her dad never learned to read. The songs will keep playing. We all know the words. Thank you, Dolly. I will always love you.’
Parker, meanwhile, revealed she had never met Parton but had always admired her from afar.
The Sex and the City actress took to social media writing: ‘I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her. I don’t think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real. Forever.’
Pascal similarly took to Instagram sharing an old black and white photo of the Jolene singer, writing: ‘One of one. We must make more.’
Elsewhere, an emotional Kardashian posted a tribute to her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘My sweet Dolly. You are with your hubby who I know you missed immensely. ‘
The reality star was referring to Parton’s longtime husband Carl Thomas Dean, to whom she was married for almost 59 years. Dean died in March 2025.
Kardashian added: ‘I know that you are with your creator. God has you wrapped in His Arms. God bless you forever and always. Thank you for everything’.
Hilton also weighed in on Instagram Stories, saying she was heartbroken by the death of her ‘idol’ and ‘inspiration’.
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger also honored the fellow music legend
Pedro Pascal similarly shared an old black and white image of the country icon
Elsewhere, an emotional Kardashian posted a tribute to her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘My sweet Dolly. You are with your hubby who I know you missed immensely’
Brooke Shields shared this sweet post
Maren Morris shared a video that showed her with Parton backstage at a concert
The Instagram account of the late Leslie Jordan shared this post
Zoe Saldana, Jack White, and Rachel Zegler were all among those who also paid tribute to the legend
Parton pictured on stage at the Blockchain Creative Labs’ Dollyverse Event at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2022
Meanwhile, Maren Morris – who has been inspired by Parton’s long career in country music – also took to social media sharing a video of her with the star.
‘There will never be another. @dollyparton was who we could all agree on and she was such a light,’ the My Church singer stated.
The legendary country singer’s death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.
She died Tuesday morning after being admitted Friday to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
Parton’s loved ones began racing to Nashville upon hearing news of her hospitalization, but not all were able to reach her while she was alive.
‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ Seaver said.
He hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’
Parton, who is often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.
Legendary country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80
Her passing came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.
Seaver fondly recalled joining Parton on tour when he was a child in the 1980s, sharing that she ‘opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.’
He characterized her as ‘a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.’
Family insiders indicated that a private service for close friends and relations will be held in Nashville within the next few days.
