I Will Always Love You
Figures across music, film, and TV honor the life and legacy of Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80
The stars have lost a bit of their shine as the world mourns Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80. “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden,” Kacey Musgraves wrote on X. “Dolly. This really really hurts.” Musgraves found a silver lining while imagining Parton reuniting with her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82. “So glad she’s with her Carl Dean,” Musgraves added. “No one talk to me today.”
Musgraves is one of many artists who have been inspired by Parton’s career. The country icon’s influence sparked a light in generations of singers and songwriters. But her impact extends beyond music: She also left an impression in the way she carried herself, particularly her willingness to spread love and stand up for anyone who has been othered and pushed aside.
“Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side,” Reba McEntire wrote on Instagram, sharing a decades-spanning carousel of images with Parton. “Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. 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.”
