Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey pay tributes to Dolly Parton

August 26, 2026 9:52 am

Korede Oluwadare

American singer Beyonce has paid a heartfelt tribute to country music icon Dolly Parton who died on Tuesday at the age of 80, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment world.

According to a statement posted on Beyonce’s official website, beyonce.com, the superstar wrote, “Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.

“I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.”

Beyonce and Parton collaborated on the singer’s 2024 album Cowboy Carter. Parton appeared on the interlude titled Dolly P and contributed to the track Tyrant.

Beyonce also recorded a reworked version of Parton’s classic hit Jolene for the album, which Parton publicly praised at the time.

BBC reports that other notable music figures have also paid tribute to the late icon.

Taylor Swift was quoted in their report on Wednesday as saying, “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. She was truly the gift that kept on giving.

“Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow 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. Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way.”

Sir Elton John was also reported to have described Parton as “a giant of an artist, unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart,” noting that he was “shocked and devastated” by the news of her death.

Sir Paul McCartney, who collaborated with Parton on a cover of Let It Be for her Rockstar album, reportedly wrote: “The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such 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. Thanks, Dolly, for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world. We will always love you; God bless and rest in peace. You were the best.”

In her tribute, Oprah Winfrey was said to have wriiten that Parton “brought the light, and we are all better because she was here. God bless you, Dolly; you earned your wings.”

From Beyonce’s genre bending Cowboy Carter collaboration to Taylor Swift’s reflections on the tightropes she walked for future generations of female artists, the tributes reveal how Parton’s music, wit and generosity shaped not just country charts but the wider entertainment landscape for decades.

PUNCH Online reports that after the announcement of Parton’s death at the age of 80, United States President Donald Trump ordered American flags across the country to be lowered for one week, in her honour.

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