Emotional Cher Pinpoints Dolly Parton’s Singular Gift

picture alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty I Superstar Cher paid an emotional tribute to her friend of almost 50 years, country icon Dolly Parton.

Parton’s death at the age of 80 was announced on Tuesday.

In a statement to People , her representatives said she died following a “brief battle with cancer,” but did not disclose which type.

Cher, 80, first met Parton in 1978 at her manager’s house, after he had also just taken over managing the country star.

In her book Cher: The Memoir, Part One , released in 2024, she recalled seeing “an extraordinary-looking woman with a mass of blond curls.” Cher’s manager told her, “Don’t make your mind up based on appearance.

You’re going to love her.

She’s a fabulous country singer.

Her name is Dolly Parton.” “He was right, and she is still my friend to this day,” Cher wrote.

An emotional Cher phoned into CBS News on Tuesday, where host Gayle King asked if she was “surprised” by the country star’s sudden death, after previously revealing some health issues , including kidney stones, that had seen her cancel shows.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Cher admitted.

King also asked Cher if she was surprised how Parton “handled” her health issues, telling fans last Friday, “It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.

But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.” “Not really, no,” Cher said.

“Because it was her spirit.

I mean, like, no matter what was happening, she was either going to go with it or it was going to get better.” The “Believe” singer also shared her insight into what she thought Parton’s singular gift as an entertainer was.