Legendary country singer Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton), who passed away a few hours ago at the age of 80, had been quietly battling cancer during the last few months of her life.
Representatives for the singer of «Jolene» confirmed the news in a statement to PEOPLE magazine, though they did not provide further details about the nature of her illness.
«Our beloved Dolly Parton dedicated her life and career to bringing joy, laughter, hope, and integrity to everything she touched. Her unparalleled generosity has touched the lives of countless people she has never met, yet she was always there to lend a helping hand,» noted the star’s representatives, among other things, while highlighting both her charitable work through the Imagination Library program and her contribution to funding vaccine research.
U.S.: The LGBTQ+ community mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, one of its role models
At a gay bar in Washington, Cameron Austin is wearing a hat and cowboy boots in honor of American singer Dolly Parton, who passed away yesterday, Tuesday, and whose free spirit inspired many members of the LGBTQI+ community in the United States.
«I didn’t grow up listening to the gay idols people might expect, but she—she was by my side from the very beginning,» the 28-year-old, who is from Tennessee just like Dolly Parton herself, told AFP.
The journey and style of the queen of country music made her an icon of the LGBTQI+ community from the very beginning—a role she willingly embraced.
In 2012, Dolly Parton, who was also extremely popular among more conservative circles, revealed that she had secretly entered a drag queen contest featuring her lookalikes and… had lost.
«I got in line, walked onto the stage, and they mistook me for a young gay man. I was the one who got the least applause. Inside, I was dying of laughter. Good thing I’m a girl—otherwise I’d be a drag queen,» she told ABC News in 2012.
Artists and politicians bid farewell to the iconic Dolly Parton
Upon hearing of the passing of the legendary Dolly Parton, social media was flooded with thousands of heartfelt messages, according to The Guardian.
A host of celebrities, colleagues, politicians, entertainment industry representatives, and millions of fans rushed to honor the memory of the woman who left her mark on the global music scene through timeless hits such as «Jolene,» «I Will Always Love You,» and «9 to 5.».
Jane Fonda
In a lengthy and moving Instagram post, her longtime friend and co-star in the movie «9 to 5» wrote, among other things: «I’m devastated… I know that millions of people are mourning, and I want to say this: Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so dynamic, so generous, and so funny that she has become an integral part of all our lives and hearts.”.
»Let's be grateful for everything he left us.".
She accompanied the post with a striking black-and-white snapshot, adding that Parton was «the very embodiment of empathy.».
See this post on Instagram.
Bernie Sanders
In a post on X, the Vermont senator described the star as «one of the greatest artists of our time,» as well as «a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQI+ rights, healthcare, and support for those affected by natural disasters.».
Paul McCartney
«The shining star, Dolly Parton, has passed away, and it’s so sad. She was such a wonderful woman,» McCartney wrote in a post on Instagram.
See this post on Instagram.
