Dolly Parton‘s music rang out on stages around the world in the days following the country legend’s death, as some of music’s biggest stars turned their concerts into emotional celebrations of her life. Parton died on August 25 at age 80 following a “brief battle with cancer,” sparking an immediate outpouring of tributes from musicians, actors, friends, and fans. However, some artists went beyond sharing memories on social media, choosing instead to honor the country music icon in the place where she spent so much of her life: on stage.
From Harry Styles playing “I Will Always Love You” inside Madison Square Garden to Kacey Musgraves leading a Boston crowd through “Here You Come Again,” Parton’s songs took on new meaning in the days after her death. Brad Paisley struggled with his emotions while revisiting the song they recorded together more than two decades ago, while Brandi Carlile dedicated an entire portion of her Nashville encore to the late star.
The tributes stretched across genres and generations, offering a powerful reminder of just how many artists Parton influenced during her more than six decades in entertainment.
Harry Styles made sure Dolly was remembered during the opening night of his massive Madison Square Garden residency in New York City on August 26. Styles paused the show to acknowledge the musicians who inspired him before specifically turning his attention to Parton, whose death had been announced one day earlier.
Rather than attempting to cover one of her classics himself, Styles allowed Dolly’s voice to fill the arena. A recording of “I Will Always Love You” played while the audience sang along, transforming Madison Square Garden into an enormous tribute to the late country icon.
Kacey Musgraves Covered ‘Here You Come Again’
Kacey Musgraves honored one of her biggest musical influences during her Boston concert on August 28. The country star performed Parton’s 1977 hit “Here You Come Again,” with footage from the concert showing the audience joining Musgraves in singing the classic. However, that wasn’t her only tribute.
Musgraves also dedicated her own emotional track “Rainbow” to Parton during the show. The singer had previously expressed her heartbreak over Dolly’s death, writing that the world felt “a lot less sparkly” without her.
Musgraves has long been vocal about her admiration for Parton and previously participated in the star-studded Dolly tribute at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Brad Paisley Struggled With His Emotions Singing Their Duet Alone
Brad Paisley’s tribute carried an especially heartbreaking significance. During his August 27 concert at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Paisley surprised the audience by performing “When I Get Where I’m Going,” his 2005 collaboration with Parton. This time, he had to sing it without her.
“When I recorded that song and sent it to Dolly, I said, ‘A couple of people in my life I’ve lost, and I didn’t know if this would relate to you,’” Paisley told the crowd. “She immediately said, ‘Yes, let me sing on that,’ and did.”
Paisley acknowledged that the song, which deals with death and what may come afterward, had suddenly taken on an entirely different meaning. He became visibly emotional while remembering his longtime friend and collaborator, admitting he never expected the song would one day be about Dolly herself.
Brandi Carlile Dedicated Three Dolly Parton Classics To Her In Nashville
Brandi Carlile’s Nashville tribute was one of the weekend’s most extensive. During her August 29 concert at Bridgestone Arena, Carlile closed out her main performance and returned for an encore that became a celebration of Parton’s life.
Carlile first performed “Coat of Many Colors” alongside Gregory Alan Isakov and Sarah Jarosz before moving into “Jolene.” She then completed the three-song Dolly tribute with “I Will Always Love You” as images of Parton appeared on the screen behind her.
The location made the moment particularly meaningful. Parton spent decades closely associated with Nashville and became one of the city’s most recognizable musical figures.
Ariana Grande Remembered Dolly Parton Before Her London Concert
Ariana Grande didn’t perform a Dolly cover herself, but she made sure the country legend was part of her London concert. Before Grande took the stage for her “Eternal Sunshine” Tour, a memorial to Parton appeared on the venue’s screens.
Footage showed Dolly singing “I Will Always Love You,” accompanied by a message remembering the late icon. Grande also shared her love for Parton as she acknowledged her death.
Ella Langley Delivered An Emotional ‘Jolene’
Ella Langley brought Dolly’s music home to the South with an emotional performance in Auburn, Alabama. During her August 29 concert, the country singer performed a cover of “Jolene” in Parton’s memory.
Langley’s performance quickly attracted attention online as fans celebrated another generation of country artists keeping Dolly’s songs alive.
John Mayer Let His Guitar Sing ‘I Will Always Love You’
John Mayer took a completely different approach to his Dolly tribute. During an intimate SiriusXM concert at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York, on August 26, Mayer performed an instrumental interpretation of “I Will Always Love You.”
Instead of singing the lyrics, Mayer recreated Dolly’s melody on his electric guitar before transitioning into his own song, “Gravity.” He returned to the melody again at the song’s conclusion.
Mayer had also discussed Parton’s death before the performance, describing her loss as a major one for music.
Pitbull Remembered The Woman Who ‘Believed’ In Him
Pitbull’s tribute demonstrated just how far Dolly’s musical relationships stretched outside country music. During his August 25 concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, Pitbull stopped the show to remember his former collaborator.
“There’s someone that was very special to me and showed me love and believed in me when a lot of folks didn’t and gave me an opportunity,” he told the audience. “And her name is Dolly Parton.”
The pair collaborated on “Powerful Women,” Pitbull’s 2024 track that samples Parton’s “9 to 5” and features new vocals from the country star. Following his speech, “Powerful Women” played for the crowd as part of his tribute.
Chris Stapleton Put His Own Spin On ‘I Will Always Love You’
Chris Stapleton was another artist who turned to arguably Dolly’s most emotional composition following her death. During his August 26 “All-American Road Show” concert at Jones Beach in New York, Stapleton performed “I Will Always Love You.” A photograph of Parton appeared on the venue’s large screens behind him as he sang the song in her honor.
Parton originally released the song in 1974 after writing it as a farewell to her longtime musical partner Porter Wagoner. Whitney Houston‘s 1992 recording later turned the already successful country song into a worldwide pop phenomenon.
Kesha Honored Dolly With A Song That Changed Her Own Family’s Life
Kesha‘s tribute came with an unusually personal connection. During her concert in Pittsburgh following Dolly’s death, Kesha performed “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” which was co-written by her mother, Pebe Sebert. Parton’s recording of the song became a No. 1 country hit in 1980.
Kesha explained that the song had a profound effect on her own family financially, even helping pay for her education. Decades later, Parton joined Kesha for a new version of the track on her 2017 album, “Rainbow.”
The Grand Ole Opry Became A Celebration Of Dolly Parton’s Life
Perhaps nowhere was Dolly’s absence felt more strongly than at the Grand Ole Opry. The Nashville institution dedicated its sold-out August 29 show to the woman who had been an Opry member since 1969. A portion of ticket sales was also designated for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Carly Pearce, who once performed at Dollywood before finding country music stardom, opened the tribute with “Those Memories of You.”
Kathy Mattea took on “Jolene,” while Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle joined forces for “Just Someone I Used to Know.” Channing Wilson performed “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” and Dolly’s niece Jada Star delivered an especially personal tribute with “The Orchard.”
Then came one final celebration. The night’s performers gathered together for “9 to 5,” with Jelly Roll making a surprise appearance alongside Pearce and the rest of the group.
The evening ended not with another artist singing a Dolly song, but with Dolly herself. The performers gathered onstage as archival footage of Parton singing “I Will Always Love You” played for the audience, allowing the country legend to have the final word at the venue that had been part of her story since she first performed there at just 13 years old.
