Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 in Nashville. The music world is mourning. Taylor Swift responded quickly with a deeply personal tribute message.
Swift wrote that a world without Dolly doesn't feel possible. She praised Parton's generosity, humour, soft heart and the iron backbone with which she defended her value as an artist. Swift called her legacy everlasting.
Books and giving back
Parton was more than a musician. Through her Imagination Library, she distributed millions of free books to children around the world. Last month, she publicly thanked Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for a $2 million donation to the programme. The gift came ahead of Swift and Kelce's wedding on 3 July at Madison Square Garden.
Mutual admiration
The respect ran both ways. In a 2024 interview, Parton praised Swift as a positive role model for young people and admired the way she handles her career and personal life.
Swift closed her tribute with: *"Dolly, I'll think of you each step of the way."*
Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond country music.
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