Celebrity tributes have poured in for country music icon Dolly Parton following her death age 80.

The legendary country singer’s passing was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, prompting an outpouring of love from America’s A-list. 

Jamie Lee Curtis, Oprah, Sarah Jessica Parker and Pedro Pascal were among the first big names to post. 

Khloe Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Reba McEntire, Zoe Saldana and Hugh Jackman also took to social media to express their shock and sadness over Parton’s death. 

The music icon also counted admirers outside of Hollywood, with politicians and media heavyweights also sharing their condolences. 

Curtis shared a photo to Instagram that showed herself cuddled up with Parton. She captioned: ‘They say don’t meet your heroes. Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all.’

Paris Hilton paid tribute to Parton, describing her as an ‘icon’ and ‘inspiration’

The Jolene singer had many A-list admirers, some of whom she had gone on to forge close friendships with

Oprah shared a snap of she and Parton together on set of the country legend’s variety show Dolly which aired in an 197.

The media mogul posted a sweet caption which read: ‘One of my fondest memories with @dollyparton: Having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly.

‘This girl from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee dreamed a life and then lived a life bigger than she could have ever imagined, giving so generously to others in ways we saw and ways we didn’t.

‘No one like her. She brought the light, and we are all better because she was here.

‘God bless you, Dolly—you earned your wings [wings emoji]’

Hilton also shared a snap of herself alongside Parton with a sweet caption which read: ‘Heartbroken to hear about Queen @dollyparton’s passing [crying and heartbroken emojis] She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me.

‘Her talent, heart and kindess touched so many lives, and she truly felt left this world better than she found it [tears welling up in eyes while smiling and sparkle emojis] Sending all my love to her family, friends, and everyone who loved her. Rest in peace, Dolly [white heart and dove emojis]’

Lauren Sanchez, who is the wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, also took to Instagram to share a snap of herself posing up with the music legend.

Oprah shared a sweet tribute as they posed up in Bob Mackie gowns

Fellow country star Reba McEntire shared this sweet tribute

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Lauren Sanchez, who is the wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, also took to Instagram to share a snap of herself posing up with the music legend

Iconic fashion designer Bob Mackie shared a sweet post of Parton in one of his creations 

Reese Witherspoon shared an extremely heartfelt tribute 

Kelly Clarkson posted a poignant message

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Heidi Klum shared a clip of she and Dolly on an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno back in 2001

Eminem shared a sweet personal letter sent to him from Parton

Sarah Jessica Parker posted a poignant message shortly after Parton’s passing was made public by her family

Fellow legend Barbra Streisand also shared a tribute 

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Sally Field shared a snap of the cast of Steel Magnolias including Parton, Julia Roberts, and Shirley MacLaine

She captioned the image on Instagram: ‘Dolly is gone and my heart is so broken. I grew up on her music. I knew every song by heart. I still do. She was there for the best days of my life and the worst ones, and she never even knew it. That’s what she did for millions of us.

Then I got to know her, and somehow she was more than the legend. She gave our Courage and Civility award its meaning, not the other way around. She said she’d always tried to put her money where her heart is.

The Fight Club actress continued: ‘Her heart was with kids. It always was. Free books in the mail to children who had none, month after month, for thirty years, because her dad never learned to read. The songs will keep playing. We all know the words. Thank you, Dolly. I will always love you.’

Parker, meanwhile, revealed she had never met Parton but had always admired her from afar.

The Sex and the City actress took to social media writing: ‘I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her. I don’t think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real. Forever.’

Pascal similarly took to Instagram sharing an old black and white photo of the Jolene singer, writing: ‘One of one. We must make more.’

Elsewhere, an emotional Kardashian posted a tribute to her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘My sweet Dolly. You are with your hubby who I know you missed immensely. ‘

The reality star was referring to Parton’s longtime husband Carl Thomas Dean, to whom she was married for almost 59 years. Dean died in March 2025. 

Kardashian added: ‘I know that you are with your creator. God has you wrapped in His Arms. God bless you forever and always. Thank you for everything’. 

Hilton also weighed in on Instagram Stories, saying she was heartbroken by the death of her ‘idol’ and ‘inspiration’.  

Goldiw Hawn shared this wonderful post

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Fellow country star Kacey Musgraves expressed her sadness on X

Carrie Underwood gushed over the fallen legend

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger also honored the fellow music legend

Pedro Pascal similarly shared an old black and white image of the country icon

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Elsewhere, an emotional Kardashian posted a tribute to her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘My sweet Dolly. You are with your hubby who I know you missed immensely’

Brooke Shields shared this sweet post

Maren Morris shared a video that showed her with Parton backstage at a concert

The Instagram account of the late Leslie Jordan shared this post 

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Zoe Saldana, Jack White, and Rachel Zegler were all among those who also paid tribute to the legend

Parton pictured on stage at the Blockchain Creative Labs’ Dollyverse Event at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2022 

Meanwhile, Maren Morris – who has been inspired by Parton’s long career in country music – also took to social media sharing a video of her with the star. 

‘There will never be another. @dollyparton was who we could all agree on and she was such a light,’ the My Church singer stated.  

The legendary country singer’s death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

She died Tuesday morning after being admitted Friday to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Parton’s loved ones began racing to Nashville upon hearing news of her hospitalization, but not all were able to reach her while she was alive.

‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ Seaver said.

He hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’ 

Parton, who is often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5. 

Legendary country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80

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Her passing came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing. 

Seaver fondly recalled joining Parton on tour when he was a child in the 1980s, sharing that she ‘opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.’ 

He characterized her as ‘a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.’

Family insiders indicated that a private service for close friends and relations will be held in Nashville within the next few days.

One Great British Sewing Bee contestant was eliminated during music week on the BBC show.

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It looks as though fans of The Great British Sewing Bee are less than impressed with the outcome this week.

During Tuesday’s instalment of the BBC show, the remaining contestants were fighting for a place in the upcoming quarter-final.

However, before they inch closer at a chance of becoming this year’s winner, they had to take part in music week as they were given three tasks to complete by Patrick Grant and Esme Young.

One of them saw the sewers recreate Madonna’s legendary cone bra while another saw the group split into two teams of three, collaborating to fashion outfits suitable for pop stars using bedroom furniture.

Finally, their made-to-measure challenge demanded they craft an ensemble inspired by the disco pop music movement of the 1970s.

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Contestant Anna seemed to impress the judges most with her look, a silver number with unique trousers which Esme confessed she wanted, reports the Mirror.

Sadly, it meant one person had to leave and host Sophie Willian shared it was Adele who would be making an exit from the programme.

As the group rushed to hug her, she could be seen dabbing her eyes while saying her goodbyes.

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Speaking to the camera, the contestant confessed she had had ‘so much fun’ and praised the people she had met on the programme.

She heartwarmingly admitted she’d ‘remember it for the rest of my life’.

Adele called it a ‘dream’ to meet the judges as Patrick explained to viewers the contestant could go out feeling ‘proud’ of herself.

However, he highlighted that she had a ‘mountain to climb’, following her performances in the previous challenges. He told viewers that it was an ‘impossible task’ for her to turn around.

It wasn’t long before people commented on the exit as many were unimpressed that Adele’s time in the competition had come to an end.

One person said: “Shame Adele had to leave! I liked her.” Another wrote: “I’m sorry but it feels so anti music week to send her home this week with that name….”

Someone else said they were ‘sad’ to see Adele leave as another shared it was ‘very unlucky’ her time had come to an end.

The Great British Sewing Bee is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Justice Department attorneys argued that if President Donald Trump’s name does not appear somewhere on the Kennedy Center, then the money from donors for renovations would shrivel up and the “decrepit, dilapidated” cultural center may be “required to be taken down.”

That came from a court filing late Monday on the long-running saga over whether the president’s name can be added to the cultural institution and venue meant to honor John F. Kennedy after his assassination. The original attempt to add “Donald J. Trump” on the building’s facade was halted by the court in May following a lawsuit from Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center.

The center’s Trump-aligned board of trustees then voted again this month to get the president’s name back on the cultural institution in a different way: by appending “Renovated and Restored By President Donald J. Trump” under the title on the building’s facade. Another phrase, “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund” would be a possible addition, as well as renaming the plaza in front of the Kennedy Center to honor the president.

In response, Beatty again asked the federal court to block those stylings, arguing that they were “clear violations of the Kennedy Center statute” that barred the board from making the center into a memorial to anyone else. A federal judge will hear arguments on that request on Thursday.

Justice Department attorneys replied in Monday’s filing with a grim picture of the state of the Kennedy Center: “a financially insolvent facility, housed in a decrepit, dilapidated, crumbling building” that “continues to race toward physical and financial ruin.”

Renovations were required, they argued, but “an order blocking the Board from appropriately recognizing President Trump will cause donors to flee, financial contributions to dry up, and structural rehabilitation to stop. There will simply not be the expertise or funding necessary to rebuild and renovate this decimated structure.”

If allowed to deteriorate further, they continued, the Kennedy Center “will be required to be taken down, with a determination to follow on what to build on the site.”

It’s not the first time the board of trustees has used the argument that fundraising could be impeded without Trump’s name on the building. A panel of judges in July said that the claim came without the support of “ specific facts or evidence.”

The Kennedy Center has fallen on harder times since Trump got more involved, with several artists canceling performances and attendance dropping.

This is one of several attempts by the presidential administration to put Trump’s stamp on the U.S. capital, including a plan for a 250-foot (76-meter) triumphal arch, and, as Trump called it, a “military complex slash ballroom ” at the White House.

Singalong nostalgia, psychological horror and prehistoric adventure are all on the programme as outdoor cinema returns to York Museum Gardens.

Picturehouse Outdoor Cinema is bringing the open-air programme to the gardens off Museum Street, featuring crowd-pleaser Grease, a special horror night built around The Shining, and Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Screenings begin at 6.30pm, although films will start after sunset which is expected to be between about 8.30pm and 9pm, giving audiences time to arrive, choose a spot and enjoy food and drink before the feature begins.

The September line-up is:

Grease, Thursday, September 11, 6.30pm

The Shining, Friday, September 12, 6.30pm

Jurassic Park, Saturday, September 13, 6.30pm

The screening of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining will include an introduction from the team behind Evolution of Horror, described as the UK’s biggest horror and film-history podcast.

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All tickets bought directly through Picturehouse include a £7 voucher to spend on food and drink at the event. The credit is issued on entry and must be used in full on the date of the booked screening, with no cash alternative or change available.

What visitors need to know

A bar and cinema-snack stall will be serving alcoholic and soft drinks, snacks including popcorn, nachos and hot dogs. The events are cashless, with card or contactless payment required.

Visitors can bring blankets, cushions and small camping-style picnic chairs, while a limited number of deckchairs will be available on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of blankets and ponchos will also be available for purchase.

No alcohol may be brought into the licensed events from outside. Picturehouse will operate a Challenge 25 policy for alcohol sales.

Dogs are welcome provided they are kept on a lead and under adult control. The cinema’s dog-friendly screening policy will apply.

There is step-free access to the venue, although visitors are advised that the gardens include slopes and banks. Accessible toilets will be available.

Weather warning

As the screenings take place in the open air, heavy rain, high winds or thunderstorms could lead to cancellation or an event being stopped early if conditions become unsafe.

Customers will be contacted if a screening is cancelled, with a full refund offered where an event is called off before or during the film.

From humble beginnings, the singer has become a global superstar, with her music crossing genres and her talents extending to the big screen.

Parton’s musical journey began in Knoxville, Tennessee, thanks to her uncle Bill Owens, who recognised her potential and became her first manager.

Parton’s debut single, “Puppy Love,” co-written with her uncle, was released on Goldband Records in 1959, though it did not achieve commercial success.

The start of Dolly Parton’s success

Her big break came at age 13 when she performed at the Grand Ole Opry, introduced by Johnny Cash.

This performance marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the Opry.

In 2019, the TV special “Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry” — though it had actually been 60 years — aired on NBC, honouring her first performance at the famed Opry House.

The early ’60s saw Parton and Owens signing with Tree Publishing and Mercury Records, but the partnership was short-lived as their songs failed to make the charts.

However, Parton was undeterred, and her perseverance paid off when she finally found success on the Billboard country charts in 1967 with two singles for Monument Records: “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy.”

Her first full-length album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” was released the same year.

The release of Jolene 

Parton’s career took a significant turn when she teamed up with Porter Wagoner in 1967.

The duo released several successful tracks, and Parton also began to make a name for herself as a solo artist.

Her song “Jolene,” released in 1973, became one of her most well-known hits, topping the country charts and marking her crossover potential into popular music.

Following this, Parton released a series of successful singles, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Love is like a Butterfly,” and “The Bargain Store,” all of which reached No. 1 on the country charts.

In 1977, Parton’s album “Here You Come Again” went on to achieve platinum status in 1978, marking a shift in the singer’s sound and career trajectory.

The album won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Dolly Parton’s film debut

Parton made her silver screen debut in 1980 with the comedy “9 to 5,” contributing the hit song of the same name to the film’s soundtrack.

The song topped the Billboard Hot 100, marking the pinnacle of Parton’s career.

The 1980s saw Parton continuing to secure her place in the music industry, with a string of successful collaborations and hit singles.

Her performance in the 1982 film “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” helped popularise “I Will Always Love You,” which was later famously covered by Whitney Houston in the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.”

Parton’s foray into bluegrass music in the late ’90s further showcased her versatility, with her first bluegrass album, “The Grass Is Blue,” winning a Grammy in 2000 for Best Bluegrass Album.

She followed this up with “Little Sparrow,” a bluegrass and folk album that won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

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Jolene singer Dolly Parton has died aged 80, her family has confirmed

Country superstar Dolly Parton dies aged 80

Throughout her career, Parton has continually reinvented herself, crossing musical genres and expanding into acting.

Her impact on the music industry was undeniable, with her songs leaving a lasting legacy.

What is your favourite Dolly Parton song? Let us know in the comments. 

Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, shared a video message on Dolly’s official Instagram account, announcing the news this evening (August 25).

He announced the death of his Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, saying: “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.

“As her head of security, for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now.

“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”

He added that Dolly “lived in the light”.

Dolly Parton’s last Instagram post shares touching memory

Before the video announcing Dolly’s passing, the icon shared a video marking the 43rd anniversary of Islands In The Stream.

The video shows Dolly singing alongside the late Kenny Rogers on stage as they perform the classic hit.

Much of Dolly’s Instagram page featured moments from across her celebrated, record-breaking career.

Earlier this month, Dolly missed the opening night of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park after experiencing dizziness and dehydration, with doctors advising her against travel.

In the aftermath of the cancelled appearance, she told People: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl.”

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She said she put her own health to the side while caring for her husband Carl before his death last year.

Dolly was married to Carl Thomas Dean for almost 60 years until his death in March 2025, aged 82.

What’s your favourite Dolly Parton song? Let us know in the comments.

By DAVID CHURCHILL

Published: 18:29 BST, 25 August 2026 | Updated: 22:08 BST, 25 August 2026

Armed police were called to the scene

A man has been arrested after gunshots were heard in a Cheshire village. Armed police were called to reports of the incident in the Beauty Bank area of Whitegate near Northwich at around 5.45pm on Monday (August 24).

A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm in a public place. An air weapon was also found during a search of the area.

Detective Inspector Ross Hamilton, of Northwich CID, said: “Firearms offences are rare in Cheshire, and we treat all reports we receive extremely seriously.

“While on this occasion there were no reports of any injuries, the use of firearms in a public place can be extremely dangerous and there are also a number of legal consequences, including significant custodial sentences.

“Enquiries in relation to this incident remain ongoing and I would urge anyone with any information or footage which may aid our enquiries to call us on 101 or visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us quoting IML 2402957.”

Dolly Parton appeared on Michael Parkinson’s BBC chat show in 1979, speaking candidly about her childhood in rural Tennessee, her family’s poverty, and the determination that helped her rise to international stardom.

The iconic country musician has died at the age of 80, her family announced on her social media.