Dolly Parton died Tuesday (8/25) in Nashville at 80 after what her representatives said was a brief battle with cancer.
Throughout the day on social media and TV, countless fans who were touched with her love and generosity joined the chorus in praising the little girl who grew up poor and made it to the top in the sweetest way.
President Barack Obama tweeted, "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 Moderna COVID vaccine. What a life. Michelle and I are thinking of Dolly’s family and her many, many fans."
In a statement to People, Taylor Swift wrote that “a world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right. But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.”
On her Instagram, Celine Dion wrote, "Dolly…you were pure light, with a kind heart and a generous spirit. We will now be missing one of the most joyful voices this world has ever known. Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all. We will always love you."
While some celebrated her life with words via a computer, others happened to be on stage and were able to do it through song.
Here's a few highlights.
Jack White, "Jolene" @ Hammersmith Odeon
There's no one who has played "Jolene" more than Jack White.
He's done it more than Olivia Newton John (73 times), The Sisters of Mercy (92), her goddaughter Miley Cyrus (99) and even more than Dolly herself (187).
And oddly all of those performances took place while he was in The White Stripes.
Once he and Meg split, that was it for Jolene.
It was White’s first performance of the song since July 24, 2007 when the White Stripes played Madison Square Garden during their last eight days as a band.
Before the show on Tuesday, White posted a vintage image of Dolly with the caption, “Instant Sainthood.”
Jack has a few more dates in the UK and Ireland. Grab them on his site.
Pitbull, "Powerful Women," @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Pitbull paid tribute to Dolly through words and music. Just two years ago the pair collaborated on “Powerful Women,” a remix in a way of “9 to 5” which samples the melody and uses some of her original song but now with extra lines about single moms and professional women.
A few months after it was released, Pitbull was on tour in Nashville with Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias. He and Dolly posed for a photo shoot.
“There was someone that showed me love and believed in me when a lot of folks didn’t and gave me an opportunity, and her name is Dolly Parton," Mr. Worldwide said at his show at Jones Beach on Tuesday.
"She lived an amazing life. A hard-working woman, intelligent, sophisticated, funny, powerful, intimidating, but more than anything, a good human being with a good heart,” he said before playing "Powerful Women."
Pitbull is here in the States through the end of September. Then in November he returns to Europe. Grab tix from his website.
Kesha, “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” @ The Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA
In 1980 Dolly released Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, which had a single, “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You),” that went to #1 on Billboard's country chart.
The tune was co-written by Kesha's mother, Pebe Sebert, with songwriter Hugh Moffatt. Joe Sun originally recorded the song in 1978 and saw it go to #14 on the country chart, but Dolly was wise to give it her own spin.
Every now and then things come full circle. Back in 2012 Kesha recorded a simple version of her mom's song and put it on Deconstructed EP.
In 2017 Kesha got Dolly to join her in a new version of the tune and placed it in her album, Rainbow.
“I just want to say thank you for bringing me so much joy today, because earlier today, I’m sure many of y’all know that we lost Ms. Dolly Parton. We literally lost an angel," Kesha told the audience.
"Through her art and through her kindness and through her love, she will live forever.
“For those of you who don’t know, I come from a long lineage of songwriters and before I was born, my mom actually wrote a song for Dolly Parton. That song bought us a house with a roof. That song put me through school,” Kesha said, referring to the royalties that helped support her family as she was growing up.
Kesha's Freedom Tour only has a few more stops left. Get tix on her website.
