You've been reaching out with your tributes to the legendary Dolly Parton. Here are some of the latest we've received:

"Rip Dolly, the mould was cracked once you were made," says Colin.

Mairead writes in to say: "When my family in Ireland of mum, dad and five daughters went on road trips in the eighties, we religiously listened to Dolly. There are at least six 40+ women who hold these tunes close to their heart, and a daddy too. Love you Dolly."

Roseann says she went to Dolly Parton's Stampede, her dining experience in Tennessee. "It was incredible... Awesome, we will never forget."

A frequent listener to Dolly's tunes, Steve, says: "I've always wanted to visit Dollywood hope to visit soon as I can."

Image source, Getty Images

Noor Nanji
Culture correspondent

Dolly Parton was the queen of the one liner.

But in all her quips and self deprecating comments, perhaps one more than any sums up her image - and how she defied the preconceptions it created.

"I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb - and I'm not blonde either."

As with many of her quotes, it gives us an insight into her unique style. Parton’s fashion was unapologetically bold, but her physical appearance was merely a façade.

Beneath that larger than life persona, she had a unique ability to connect deeply to fans - which explains the outpouring of love we’ve seen for her since news of her death broke.

In the world of showbiz, she also used her image cleverly to get what she wanted, says Marian Kwei, a Vogue contributor.

"It should be noted that Dolly was credited as being a razor sharp and astute businesswoman so she actually was far off from the image she gave ‘of the not that smart blonde bimbo'," Kwei told BBC News.

"This glamour armour, which saw of a mix of what might be deemed 'gaudy' - tight clothing that revealed her cleavage, bright colours, the heavy glitz and shine of the sequins and rhinestone - was used to her advantage.

"The self poking actually allowed Dolly Parton to control the narrative with regards her image."

Image source, Getty Images

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, saying she will be remembered for a legacy of “great music that people will treasure forever”.

Speaking to reporters at a supermarket in London, Burnham describes himself as a “huge” fan of the country music star and praises the impact of her literacy work.

He says it was “so moving” to hear how Parton’s relationship with her father inspired her desire to give back to others and create the Imagination Library programme, giving free books to children.

Burnham also reflects on the success of the library when it expanded to the UK, recalling his time as culture secretary when the scheme first entered British communities, adding: "What a legacy to leave."

• Read more about her philanthropic library scheme in our earlier post

Image source, Getty Images

Growing up in poverty in rural Tennessee, Dolly Parton built a business empire that stretched far beyond music.

Following the news of her death, her ventured have been paying tribute.

Dollywood, the theme park she co-founded in Tennessee, said Parton's wish was that it would remain "a place of joy, hope and togetherness", adding it would stay open on Wednesday as she wanted, "always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle".

Dolly Parton's Songteller Hotel said her legacy "lives on in every corner of this place" and vowed to continue her values of "love, hospitality and joy".

Dolly Beauty, her make-up brand, said: "We will always love you, Dolly. Your creativity, your kindness and your light will live forever."

The phrase was echoed across several of her businesses, including Dolly Wines and Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop, a motorway stop for travellers, which also said: "We will always love you, Dolly."

Emily Holt
Education reporter

As we've reported, Dolly Parton left a legacy with her children's literacy programme the Imagination Library, which she began in 1995 and provides free books to children from birth to age five.

The programme operates in the UK, as well as four other countries.

Andrew Percy, former primary school teacher and conservative MP, tells BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme about his involvement in setting up Parton’s imagination libraries in Goole and Scunthorpe.

“I sat down with the Imagination Library folks in the UK, who do amazing jobs supporting lots of these schemes, and we've struggled sometimes with our educational standards, so I wanted to bring that to the area.

"Her imagination libraries are a great gift," he adds.

Percy worked with North Lincolnshire Council who agreed to fund the scheme for every child in the area - the scheme is still running now, and Percy says they have given over one million books to children there.

“Reading is in decline, and actually, more than ever, we need kids to get reading and do what Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was set up to do.”

Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Dolly Parton sold more than 100 million records, wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement honour.

Let's take a look at Parton, on stage, through the decades:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

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Pop star Katy Perry is among the latest global stars to pay tribute to Dolly Parton.

"Like the rest of the world, my heart sank seeing the news of dear Dolly’s passing, says Perry, also adding: "If there’s someone you wanna look up to and model your life after, it’s Dolly. Dolly was glam, funny, and kind."

American actress and singer-songwriter Kate Hudson writes in a post on Instagram: “Our hearts just shattered hearing this news. Dolly was a light in this world.”

Singer Gwen Stefani adds that she was heartbroken to hear about “the loss of a true original and forever one of a kind”.

Country singer Luke Combs posted a series of Parton's songs on Instagram and wrote: "Dolly Parton will be so deeply missed it's hard to understand".

Peter Hoskins
Business reporter

Image source, The Washington Post via Getty Images

Dolly Parton may have been best known for her music, acting and philanthropy but she also had a very keen eye for business.

Early in her career she set up a music publishing company, which meant she kept control of her biggest hits and, crucially, the vast royalties they attracted.

Estimates put her earnings from the song I Will Always Love You at as much as $20m (£14.7m).

Then there was the host of things she put her name to, including cosmetics brand Dolly Beauty and Dollywood - a theme park in her home state of Tennessee.

In June this year, Parton opened Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop offering a signature coffee brand named Cup of Ambition in a nod to her Grammy-winning single 9 to 5.

All that helped create a personal fortune of $450m, according to Forbes magazine.

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from Nashville

In Nashville, where it is now almost 03:00 local time, people continue to pay respect to Dolly Parton.

It is the city where she started her career, and people have been gathering outside the Country Music Hall of Fame to pay tribute.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Ira Berger / Alamy

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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

Image source, gett

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.”