Kacey Musgraves turned a Boston concert into a heartfelt farewell to Dolly Parton just days after her death.
During her “Middle of Nowhere” tour stop in Boston, Musgraves performed the late iconic country singer’s 1977 hit “Here You Come Again.”
Kacey Musgraves has long spoken about Dolly Parton’s influence on her music, style, and approach to being a woman in country music. The country singer had access to Parton’s archives in 2015.
Musgraves appeared in a black shiny jumpsuit and introduced the moment by saying, “I wanna do a favorite song of hers.” Musgraves’ two-song tribute began with “Rainbow,” a song of her own that she dedicated to Parton. She then paired it with “Here You Come Again,” giving the crowd a chance to sing along with one of Parton’s best-known songs.
The performance took place during Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere Tour stop in Boston. The timing made the tribute especially emotional for fans who were still processing the loss. Fans reacted strongly to the music performance. One person said, “Forever my favorite Dolly song.”
Another fan said, “One of my favorite artists, singing my favorite Dolly song in my favorite city. I’ll never get past losing her.” A fan who was moved by the country singer’s performance begged her to keep the tribute throughout her tour.
The singer’s tribute seems to be everyone’s favorite, making one of the commenters on Instagram compare her to Parton: “She’s our generation’s Dolly,” the fan wrote.
Musgraves Previously Said Parton Was One Of A Kind
Musgraves’ admiration for Parton was already clear years before the latest tribute. In a 2021 interview, she discussed the immense influence Parton had on her as an artist and as a woman. The conversation showed why performing Parton’s music carried such significance after her death.
Musgraves said she loved Parton as a style icon and a businesswoman. She also admired how Parton embraced being a beautiful, sexy woman while remaining proud of her femininity and body. Musgraves praised her for never feeling pressured to shrink her flamboyant personality around the men in the industry.
The singer also recalled Parton’s determination to make her own choices. During the Rolling Stone interview with Alex Morris, Musgraves referenced the story that Parton was reportedly told not to marry on a Friday, only to marry on Saturday anyway.
Musgraves said Parton essentially had the attitude of doing what she wanted and doing it “fabulously,” while building a career that would last into her 70s and beyond.
How The 38-Year-Old Singer Reacted To Her Hero’s Death
Parton’s death made Musgraves’ latest tribute even more emotional. The singer reacted to the news by writing Dolly with a heartbreak emoji. “This really really hurts,” she wrote on X before adding that the world suddenly felt “a lot less sparkly.” She also expressed comfort in the thought of Parton being reunited with her husband, Carl Dean.
Dean died in March 2025, and Musgraves referenced their reunion while mourning Parton. She later asked people not to speak to her that day as she processed the loss. Musgraves once described Parton as one of her heroes and recalled being allowed into her fashion archives in 2015.
The archive contained clothing, jewelry, and shoes Parton had worn since 1967, with each item labeled and photographed. Their history also included the 2019 Grammy tribute honoring Parton. Musgraves and Katy Perry opened that performance with “Here You Come Again,” before Parton joined the other performers for “9 to 5,” as shared by Parade.
Parton’s Final Farewell Was Kept Private
Three days after Parton’s death, about a dozen relatives reportedly gathered at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. They arrived carrying flowers as the family prepared for Parton to be laid to rest beside Dean. The Blast reported that it remained unclear whether the gathering was the official funeral or another private memorial.
Among those seen at the cemetery was Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security. Seaver had announced her death for the family and reportedly coordinated with police and security personnel before greeting relatives. One insider described the cemetery as “crawling with cops,” while an officer reportedly said the family was on its way.
Parton had previously requested a small, private service for immediate family. She was set to rest beside Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82 after their 58-year marriage. Their tomb already carried Parton’s name, while the memorial featured a peaceful mountain landscape inspired by their Tennessee roots.
The couple first met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat after Parton moved to Nashville at 18. The Blast reported that they married in 1966 and remained together until Dean’s death. Woodlawn Memorial Park is also the final resting place of Dean’s parents, as well as country figures Porter Wagoner and Tammy Wynette.
What Does Dolly Parton Want To Be Remembered For?
Parton had revealed decades before her death that she wanted her legacy to center on children’s literacy rather than her looks or music. In a 1982 interview with Barbara Walters, she said, “If I’m remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for looks but for books.”
That vision became the Imagination Library, which began in 1995 through the Dollywood Foundation. The program was inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., who could not read or write. It initially sent free books to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, before growing into an international literacy program.
The program now sends personalized, age-appropriate books to children from birth through age five across five countries. It has reportedly distributed hundreds of millions of books, while Ireland alone sends more than 1.3 million free books to participating children each month.
The Blast revealed that Parton once recalled how much her father enjoyed seeing children receive the books and call her “The Book Lady.” She later encouraged Imagination Library graduates to dream big, learn everything they could, and care for those who cared for them. Her family has since asked fans to make donations to the Imagination Library instead of sending flowers.
Rest in peace, Dolly Parton!
