Beyoncé Shares New Heartfelt Tribute to Dolly Parton

As the world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 at the age of 80, tributes are pouring in from across the music world, and one of the most moving comes from Beyoncé. The two icons shared a special bond as collaborators, and Beyoncé took a moment to honor the country legend with words as warm and radiant as Parton herself.

In a statement shared on her website, Beyoncé celebrated everything Parton meant to her, and to the countless artists who followed in her footsteps.

Beyoncé’s Touching Words

“Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious,” Beyoncé wrote in her tribute, as Variety reported. She went on to thank Parton for the many lessons she taught about being unapologetically oneself, expressing gratitude for her art, her heart, her generosity, her humor, and her entrepreneurship.

Beyoncé also reflected on the honor of having worked alongside the legend, sharing, as CNN noted, that Parton was “an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your art.” She closed with a simple, powerful sentiment that so many fans share: Parton was “truly one of one.”

A Special Bond Through Cowboy Carter

Beyoncé and Parton’s connection was beautifully cemented on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning 2024 album Cowboy Carter. The record featured Beyoncé’s bold reimagining of Parton’s signature classic “Jolene,” a cover the country icon enthusiastically praised, calling it “very bold” and delighting in the fresh spin.

Parton’s presence on the album reached beyond the cover, too. She lent her unmistakable voice to two cameos, including a playful “Dolly P” interlude that teed up “Jolene.” The collaboration was a full-circle moment between two boundary-breaking women, and part of what made Beyoncé’s genre-defying era so historic, ultimately earning the album the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Beyoncé Honoring a Legend

Beyoncé joins a chorus of artists, from Kacey Musgraves to Reba McEntire, celebrating Parton’s incomparable legacy in the wake of her passing. Together, their tributes paint a portrait of a woman who was as generous as she was gifted, and whose influence stretched across every corner of music.

Dolly Parton spent a lifetime lifting others up and opening doors, and the outpouring of love now flooding in is a testament to just how many lives she touched. As Beyoncé so perfectly put it, she truly was one of one. Rest in peace, Dolly.

Our thoughts remain with Dolly Parton’s family, friends, and the millions of fans around the world holding her close today.