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Grace Bowers, an artist from Nashville, performed alongside Dolly Parton in 2024 when she was just 17 years old and ended up playing Jolene together.

"I remember the day that her team called," she tells BBC Radio 5 Live.

"They called my mom and asked if I wanted to do it. And I was sitting beside her, jumping up and down, just so stoked, because that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Bowers says what stood out about Parton was how "good of a person she was" and how genuine she was about that.

Recalling sharing the stage with her, Bowers says she was "definitely a little nervous", but it was "incredible" and is now a "core memory".

"The first time that she stepped out on stage, when I saw her for the first time, I'll never forget that moment," she adds.

Bowers says Parton's legacy "will be in her songwriting" and "in what kind of a person she was", adding "everyone has taken something from Dolly, whether they know it or not".

We've been hearing from BBC readers, who have shared their memories and tributes to Dolly Parton.

John says: "Dolly Parton’s child literacy campaign was inspired. She got a lot out of life but she also put a lot in especially for the underprivileged. God bless Dolly, may you rest in peace."Alexander writes that he got into her music after attending the 9-5 musical and sitting in front of "three women who must have been in their late 80s dressed head to toe in pink cowboy gear and singing Dolly songs the whole way back.

"It was such a wholesome sight it really got me into her music after that."

"Dolly was a true great who will be always remembered for her love and enjoyment of performing the arts," Richard says. "She put the life source into music and is already missed."

"Seeing her at Glastonbury was one of those experiences that stays with you for life," says Ben. "Love for her as far as the eye could see. She leaves the world better for having been here, and she will never die in the ears of her fans and through all the lives she has touched."

If you want to share what Dolly meant to you, you can do so here.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Dolly Parton has left a huge legacy with her children's literacy programme the Imagination Library, which she began in 1995.

Books are mailed to children from birth to age five for free, regardless of income. It was first launched in Sevier County, Tennessee, where the star grew up.

She was inspired to start the scheme because of her father, who never had the chance to learn to read or write, having grown up poor.

Since then, almost 3.2 million children have registered with over 332 million books gifted. It now operates across the US, Australia, Canada and Ireland.

The scheme also reached the UK, with community groups joining the programme in the hope of improving literacy rates and education outcomes.

Education secretary Lucy Powell paid tribute to Parton on hearing the news of her death, writing: "That gift to children and education will outlast generations."

She was dubbed a “Kentucky Colonel”, the highest civilian award in the state, back in 2024, as she promoted the expansion of the scheme.

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Tributes continue to pour in to Dolly Parton from across the world of show business.

Singer Celine Dion describes Parton as "pure light with a kind heart and a generous spirit" in an Instagram post.

Actress Anne Hathaway says Parton showed "so many shining examples of how to be a treasure of humanity".

Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson adds that the singer "taught us that a woman can be powerful, beautiful and talented, and still be kind and that success never has to come at the expense of grace, generosity, or heart".

"Tonight we celebrate Dolly Parton…the living legend, or should I say the legend that lives forever. We love you, Dolly," says the singer Pitbull who paid tribute before he performed her hit 9 to 5 during a concert in New York.

Tennessee singer and rapper Jelly Roll paid tribute to Parton on Jimmy Kimmel Live. "She might be the last American everyone liked," he says. "We will miss her dearly. Rest in Peace Dolly. We will always love you."

Overnight, fans continued to bring tributes to the statue of Dolly Parton in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee and her star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

People have been leaving flowers, balloons and cards at both landmarks.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Bill DeMain is a music journalist and tour guide for the Walkin' Nashville Music City Legends Tour. He says there is a "tangible feeling of sadness" in the city following Dolly Parton's death.

"If you live here and are a musician and an artist.. you consider her a north star, a guiding light," he tells BBC Breakfast.

DeMain says he interviewed Parton a couple of times and describes her as "really down to earth, funny and sweet" in light of "all her stardom and iconic status".

"She had that gift of giving you total focus and it wasn't artificial in any way. She cared about people. She was curious about people," he adds.

DeMain says some of Parton's early songs were "really dark and honest", adding she lived "a lot of pain" and wrote about it in a way that was "completely honest and heart wrenching".

He says this "act of honesty and that heartfelt songwriting" is why her music is known across all ages and generations of music lovers.

Jacob Phillips
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

Fans and celebrities are mourning Dolly Parton after the country singer died on Tuesday aged 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

In recent months, Dolly Parton had pulled out of several public appearances to deal with "health challenges".

“Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness," wrote her team, as some of the biggest names in stardom try to come to terms with her death.

“It is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly,” wrote Paul McCartney while Taylor Swift described how "a world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right”.

Landmarks across the US, including the Empire State Building in New York, sparkled pink for the Tennessee icon while president Donald Trump ordered flags to be lowered across the US for a week.

Parton was one of 12 children and grew up “dirt poor” in a rundown farm before writing over 3,000 songs including Jolene, Coat of Many Colours and I Will Always Love You. “No-one did it like Dolly,” writes our music correspondent.

We will continue to bring you all the latest tributes to the grande dame of country, stick with us.

Image source, Reuters

It is not just the Empire State Building in New York lighting up pink and sparkly to honour Dolly Parton.

In Chicago, the Willis Tower lit its antennas pink in tribute.

And in Santa Monica, Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel is lighting up the pier in pink lights and pink hearts, as the park described her as a "true icon" on its Instagram page.

Image source, Reuters

Dolly Parton is best known for her decades-spanning music career, but her work as an actor - including in her breakout role in 1980 comedy 9 to 5 - also made a lasting impression on audiences.

She also became widely recognised for her literacy advocacy work, posed for Playboy magazine and opened her own theme park, Dollywood, in Tennessee in 1986.

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Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from Nashville

Jim and Kim Gallagher are visiting Nashville from Scottsdale, Arizona.

As they pay tributes to Parton at the Walk of Fame, they tell me how this visit will be a painful memory but also a sweet reminder of how they could share the grief of this city, which the country singer loved so much.

Jim says: “It was important for us to come here and pay our respect to someone who meant so much to the country. We had to stop and think about what we could do to memorialise her.”

Kim is still in disbelief.

She says the couple visited the Grand Ole Opry just a couple of days ago and she said to her husband in front of the legend’s portrait “how sad it would be to lose Dolly when it happens".

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

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Parton was famous for her wisdom and humour, and many of her quotes reveal just how smart she really was, along with her depth, sensitivity and optimism.

Here are just a few of her famous quotes:

• “I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb - and I'm not blonde either.”
• "I'm pretty sharp. I'm not educated and I'm not that intelligent, but I'm smart. They say somebody's street smart. I feel like if I got intelligence, it's just a country smart."
• “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap."
• “It's a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I'd be a drag queen.”
• “People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there.”
• "If I see something sagging, bagging and dragging, I'm going to nip it, tuck it, and suck it."

• “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!”
• “I always just thought if you see somebody without a smile, give'em yours!”
• “I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.”
• “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
• "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
• “Storms make trees take deeper roots.”

We've now heard from Taylor Swift, reflecting on the contribution of a fellow Tennessee country icon. Here's her statement in full:

"A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right. But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.

She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously. She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist.

Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too.

Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way."

Image source, TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

I was lucky enough to see Dolly Parton perform at the O2 in London, back in 2011, during her Better Day World Tour.

Aside from her note-perfect singing, natural charm and ability to chat to an audience of 20,000 like you were in her front room, she also played dozens of musical instruments.

Switching from guitar to banjo to keyboards to saxophone, she played them all like the pro she was - and this was with incredibly long fingernails (something any music student will tell you they were told to keep short!).

At one point the stage was converted to the porch of a small wooden house on a riverbank in Tennessee, like the one she was born in. She sat back in her chair on the porch, chatted about her life at home and sang Coat of Many Colors.

She was funny, touching and above all warm. Hearing her sing I Will Always Love you brought at tear to many eyes that night, mine included.

New York City's Empire State Building has honoured Dolly Parton, lighting up in pink in memory of the legendary singer.

"This is truly heartbreaking. Dolly Parton was an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable champion of the working class. We are a better country because of her," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X.

Image source, Getty Images

In the Great Smoky Mountains town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, thousands of visitors turn up every week to visit Dollywood and enjoy its many Dolly-inspired attractions.

With the tagline "love every moment", visitors are invited to try out the various rides and attractions. But at its core is the "Dolly Parton experience", a walk-through of archived recordings, outfits and artefacts dedicated to Dolly's life as a performer – touring, on stage and meeting all sorts of people. It also hosts many festivals throughout the year.

So, how did the star end up with her own amusement park?

Dolly became a co-owner of the theme park in 1986. It had changed owners multiple times since it was first set up 25 years earlier and her buy-in exponentially boosted visitor numbers.

In the inaugural red ribbon ceremony to open the park, Dolly said: "I feel like today is the first time I've really come home".

Her roots run deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, having grown up in nearby Locust Ridge, and the theme park pays tribute year-round to its "Dreamer-in-Chief", according to Dollywood's official website.

“The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President.

Fans will be able to visit the park to farewell its namesake on Wednesday.

Image source, Getty Images

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from Nashville

Walking through the Nashville airport, I see some staff here clearly grieving the beloved icon.

Scott Moore says Parton was a state and national treasure as he shows me his phone wallpaper - it's Dolly wearing bright pink.

"I am shocked, I am devastated. She was my world. Nobody can replace her," he says.

On the way to baggage claim, I find a shop named after the Grand Ole Opry, the famous country music venue, and the owner Stacy Wilson is displaying a tribute to her on a TV screen.

She says that the people of Tennessee really looked up to Parton and that she is omnipresent in her home state.

"She is everywhere by way of her books, her new hotel and even the truck stop that she opened."

Helena Humphrey
Reporting from Nashville

Outside the Country Music Hall of Fame here in Nashville, people are gathering tonight to remember the queen of country music. Among them is seven-year-old Nash Greer, standing beside Dolly Parton’s star, playing a moving rendition of Coat of Many Colors on his violin.

His mum tells me they were on their way home from school when they heard the news. Nash happened to have his "fiddle" in the car and asked if they could come straight down because he loved Dolly so much.

Around him, people are laying flowers and lighting candles. Some are in well-worn cowboy boots, others in rather flashier rhinestone ones.

Of course, Jolene and 9 to 5 are among the songs Dolly Parton is best known for. But what I keep hearing here tonight is how much Coat of Many Colors means to people, her song about growing up poor in rural Tennessee.

And that story of where she came from seems to be part of why people here feel such affection for her. Again and again, they talk about what she did for other people.

Jenna Bailey, from Piney Flats, Tennessee, tells me her two children received books from Parton’s Imagination Library from the time they were babies until they turned five.

"We still have all the books," she says. "Everything she did was for other people."

Lavender Davidson puts it another way: "She should have been a billionaire, but she just kept giving money away, because that’s what it was for."

She calls Parton "the crown jewel of this state" and the "patron saint of the Appalachians".

And I think that gets at something you really feel here tonight. In a country that can often seem deeply divided, Dolly Parton was one of those rare people who brought people together, across generations, backgrounds and politics.

Image source, WireImage

Country singer and pop star Shania Twain pays tribute to Dolly Parton, sharing a clip on social media of the two of them performing Dolly's '70s hit: Coat of Many Colors.

In the reel, Twain introduces Dolly on the set of the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2003 – referring to her as "the person I always wanted to grow up to be".

"My mentor is gone," Twain writes on social media.

"My songwriting teacher and hero of grace and humility. There is a hole in my heart but the joy of just the thought of her smile will continue to fill me with inspiration for as long as I live."

Twain's songs contain a Dolly-inspired stylistic blend of country and pop.

"I will cherish this moment performing Coat Of Many Colors with Dolly forever," she writes in her tribute.

"Goodbye Dolly. Rest in peace, beautiful angel."

All the living former US presidents have issued statements praising Parton's legacy and philanthropy along with contributions to American culture.

Bill Clinton described Parton as a "one of a kind" songwriter and performer who "told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart".

He said that he and former First Lady and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been big fans since seeing her in 1974 and praised her contributions to promoting literacy.

George W Bush said he and his wife Laura "loved her music and her style. She was a great entertainer and even greater person. We respected her work to promote literacy, advance health, and strengthen communities".

"It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton," Barack Obama wrote before listing some of her charitable endeavours and accolades.

Joe Biden said she was "a relentless advocate for women and for equality" among other things, adding: "But perhaps most importantly, Dolly treated everyone with kindness and respect."

Earlier, US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Parton and said that American flags would be lowered in her honour for one week - an exceedingly rare observance, according to BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking to reporters before her headline act on the Pyramid Stage in 2014, Dolly Parton described her excitement at performing at Glastonbury.

"I can't believe I've never done this before," she said.

"I'm excited about it."

She revealed she'd even written a song about Glastonbury's muddy conditions.