Gutwrenching ways America paid tribute to Dolly Parton with Empire State Building in pink & order for flags at half mast

DOLLY Parton’s legacy has been honored in dozens of ways, from donated books to flags at half mast after her death at the age of 80. The beloved country music star died on Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer, just days after being hospitalized in Nashville, Tennessee. Dolly Parton (pictured in 2023) died on August 25 at the age of 80 following a brief cancer battle Credit: Getty Immediately after the news of her death, fans gathered to pay tribute to the country music singer, including at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Credit: AFP Since her nephew confirmed her death on Tuesday afternoon, tributes have poured in worldwide from fans and celebrities. Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Donald Trump, Khloe Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne were some of the celebrities leading the pack to pay tribute to the Jolene singer. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Millions gathered around the US mourning Dolly, whose career spanned several decades, leaving flowers and donating books to her charity Imagination Library that mails out books to children in need monthly. In her home state of Tennessee, mourners gathered to pay their respects with flowers and balloons at her home in Brentwood and at her amusement park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge. read more on dolly parton Others left acoustic guitars, flowers and books at her statue on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse in her hometown of Sevierville. After the news of her passing, Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff to honor “one of the greatest Country singers.” “This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” the president said. “In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.” Most read in Entertainment Tennessee Governor Bill Lee also said flags would be lowered in the state in Dolly’s memory as he called the star “Tennessee’s favorite daughter.” “Dolly Parton was one of a kind, who loved people, her work, her family, and her Lord. Tennessee has forever been changed – enhanced – by her, and will never be quite the same without Dolly,” the governor said in a tribute on Facebook. The Empire State Building in New York City lit up in a pink sparkle to honor Dolly at 9:25pm, a nod to her hit song 9-5. “Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide,” the official Empire State Building account shared on X. The Empire State Building in New York City lit up in pink to honor Dolly on August 25 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial American flags were lowered to half staff by National Park Service staff around the Washington Monument in honor of Dolly death Credit: Getty Flowers were left around a surround a statue of Dolly in Sevierville, Tennessee Credit: AP Fans left a variety of flowers and posters on Dolly’s star Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Fans also gathered to remember Dolly at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, leaving behind flowers, a bracelet, red lipstick and a box of her sugar cookie mix from her collection with Duncan Hines. A poster that read, “We will always love you,” was also left on her star, a reference to her song that was famously covered by Whitney Houston. “What we do is whenever somebody is a walk of famer and when they pass away, we pay tribute to them with flowers,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez told the BBC. “It’s a love letter to her family. To let her know that we care and we’re gonna miss her and we love her.” Flowers, a wand and red lipstick seen left on Dolly’s Hollywood star Credit: EPA Fans gathered around the Dolly statue at the Sevier County Courthouse on August 25 Credit: Getty Fans in Dolly shirts seen paying their respects in Nashville Credit: Getty Tributes to the star were also left at the gates of her home in Brentwood, Tennessee Credit: Getty Kitten Kaysera, a superfan dressed in all pink who was paying tribute to Dolly on the Walk of Fame told the BBC she would remember the singer as being an angel and “a light in the dark world.” Nashville fans left flowers and lit candles for Dolly outside of the Country Music Hall of Fame, where Dolly also has a star. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum also has an exhibit dedicated to Dolly that is only expected to run through October 4, 2026, according to its website. Several artists who had concerts planned on Tuesday night took time to honor Dolly. Flowers seen laid on Dolly’s star on the Music City Walk of Fame outside the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville Credit: AP A “We will always love you” sign seen at Dolly’s home in Brentwood Credit: Getty Full statement announcing Dolly Parton's death at 80 Below is the full video statement by Dolly Parton's team announcing her death on August 25, 2026. She was 80. “Hey everyone, my name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. Sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next. “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 honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens. “I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s. Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible. “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. “My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not. “Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever. Dolly was 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 wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. “Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly. Aunt Granny. Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.” Pitbull danced on stage at the Jones Beach Theater in New York to Dolly’s 9-5 after recalling her as someone who “showed me love and believed in me when a lot of folks didn’t and gave me an opportunity.” “She lived an amazing life, a hardworking woman, intelligent, sophisticated, funny, powerful, intimidating — but more than anything, a good human being with a good heart,” Pitbull said. “And she showed me a lot of love.” Pitbull and Dolly worked on the song Powerful Women together as part of the Hotel Room Service singer’s Trackhouse project in 2024. Tame Impala played a video montage of Dolly on the jumbotron of the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, while Jack White played the hit song Jolene during his show at Eventim Apollo in London. She was further honored in the UK where the King’s Guard played 9-5 outside of Buckingham Palace. The Grand Ole Opry, where Dolly made her debut at just 13 years old when it was still held at the Ryman Auditorium, also paid respects to the music legend. Fans gathered with tears in their eyes as flowers were left to remember Dolly and her music was played. Several goodbyes were made on stage, including from Rhonda Vincent, who first recorded harmonies for Dolly’s album in 1992, according to WTVF. A person lays flowers at Dolly’s star outside the Country Music Hall of Fame Credit: AP Ben Hall seen placing flowers near Dolly Parton’s plaque at the Country Music Hall of Fame Credit: AP She recalled how she thought it was a prank call when the singer first reached out to her. “It said, ‘Hi, this is Dolly Parton, and I want you to come to Nashville and sing with me.’ I thought it was a prank call, but I called the number back. Sure enough, it was her,” she said. Vincent recalled seeing Dolly carry around her makeup in Ziploc bag, which inspired her to do the same. “She goes, ‘I have all these wonderful bags. And she says, I can’t find anything.’ But she pulled out a Ziploc bag. To this day I carry my makeup in a Ziploc bag thanks to Dolly.” Comment now