Taylor Swift says a world without Dolly Parton ‘doesn’t feel possible’

Dolly Parton performs at Glastonbury music festival (Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) AP Jessica Coates 5 minutes ago Taylor Swift said Dolly Parton was “true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person” following the country singer’s death aged 80.

Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who said sharing the news was “an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness”.

Swift, 36, said in a statement shared with media outlets including People that “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 said.

She continued: “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.”

The Jolene singer thanked Swift and then-fiance Travis Kelce in an Instagram post last month for their 2 million dollar donation to the country songstress’s non-profit, Imagination Library, adding she was “blown away” by the gesture.

Swift’s statement continued: “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.

Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the country star in a heartfelt post on Instagram describing Parton as a “magnificent star” and “wonderful woman” who he met at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, country music’s most well-known venue and where Dolly Parton first appeared at age 13.

He said: “Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly.”

Beyonce, who worked with Parton on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, said in a statement on her website: “Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.”

Popstar Sabrina Carpenter also paid tribute to the country star, who featured on the deluxe version of her song Please Please Please.

Gasps heard as audience at 9 To 5 musical told of Dolly Parton’s death

She said in a post on Instagram: “I will cherish our laughter and conversations and I will keep your wisdom, your playful outlook on life, and perfect sense of humor in my pocket for the rainy days.”