PEOPLE confirmed Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25

NEED TO KNOW

• Country stars shared heartfelt tributes after Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25
• In the tributes, the singers reflected on Dolly Parton’s kindness, influence, and legacy in music and beyond
• Many artists, including Maren Morris and Trace Adkins, highlighted her generosity and impact on their personal and professional lives

The country community is mourning the death of their beloved Dolly Parton.

Moments after the news broke that the Queen of Country died in Nashville on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at age 80, fellow country artists flooded social media with heartfelt tributes.

Blake Shelton shared a photo from Parton’s appearance on The Voice and expressed his heartbreak at hearing the news.

“I can say with absolute certainty that we are all feeling the same heart brokenness today,” Shelton wrote on Instagram. “I only got to spend any real time with Dolly when Gwen and I got to work with her on The Voice. I want everyone to know that she was the EXACT person that you think she is. It was like being with the funnest, most loving, most caring and closest member of your family. Truly a loss for the entire world. We love you Dolly.”

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Parton’s longtime friend Reba McEntire shared photos of them together over the years — and began her caption by writing that she had just gotten the news that her “buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side.”

“Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart,” she wrote on Instagram. “There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang. Thank you, Lord, for Dolly. She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her. I’ll never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart. I will always love you, Reba.”

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On his Instagram Stories, Keith Urban wrote that he was “heartbroken” over the news.

“Honestly,” he began, “I have no words right now.”

Kacey Musgraves kept it simple on X and shared her name with a broken heart emoji, alongside “this really really hurts.”

“The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden,” she wrote in a follow-up post, adding, “So glad she’s with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.”

Singer-songwriter Natalie Hemby shared photos from a performance with The Highwomen and Parton, whom she called her “Tennessee hero.”

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“I just wanna thank @amandapearlshires @marenmorris @brandicarlile for asking me to be in @thehighwomen … one of the many reasons being that I got to meet my Tennessee hero, and sing with her, and tell her how much she meant to me, and thank her for her songs and for being an example of how to love people,” she wrote on Instagram. “I will always love you, Dolly. Thank you for all the joy that you brought to this world. You will forever live on in the music…and in my heart!”

The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry shared a sweet story on Instagram about the time producer Rick Rubin gave Parton her phone number.

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“He wanted her to talk some courage into me. And she did – she called me herself, this gorgeous soul, my fellow East Tennessean, and told me to be bold with my voice. It’s one of the most iconic, turning-point moments of my life,” she wrote. “Years later, I got to sing her favorite song of mine – ‘I Will Always Love You’ – at the White House. Full circle doesn’t even cover it. Heartbroken doesn’t even come close. She is my hero. My queen. There will never be another her. Fly high, Mrs. Dolly. Fly high. 🕊️”

Jo Dee Messina shared a video of herself singing “I Will Always Love You” — which was written by Parton and famously performed later by Whitney Houston — and wrote, “We will always love you” over the clip.

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“There are no words to ease the sadness. Dolly, I remember being a little girl and learning every single one of your songs. My parents had your records, and I would listen to them endlessly,” she captioned her video. “You’ve made a way for so many of us. Thank you for that! You were always the brightest light in the room. You will be greatly missed. I love you 💔”

Maren Morris shared a throwback Instagram video of Parton singing alongside her — and she wrote in the caption that there will “never be another” Parton.

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“[Parton] was who we could all agree on. she was and is such a light. 💔” wrote Morris.

Ty Herndon wrote that country music “lost one of its most legendary artists and trailblazers.”

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“Words aren’t enough at a time like this to encapsulate everything @dollyparton meant to me and the entire planet. We will always love you, Dolly! 🦋” Herndon wrote alongside a throwback photo with Parton on Instagram.

John Carter Cash shared a sweet childhood photo with Parton and sent love to her family in the caption.

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“Her music, of course, influenced multiple generations all around the world. But her heart and giving love for humanity overshadowed even her music. Blessings to the legacy of the lady…” Cash wrote.

Jennifer Nettles posted a black-and-white image of Parton and said the world was a “much better place” because of her.

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“She was a singing, dazzling, rhinestone example of what it means to be giving, kind, generous, gracious, and loving. She leaves us an artistic legacy that will never even remotely be rivaled, and moreover, she showed us what it means to be a leader of culture and an ally to those who need it most,” Nettles wrote on Instagram. “And she did it all with a twinkle in her eye. Our hearts are broken at losing such a light. The stars will sparkle brighter tonight with her spirit. Thank you Dolly. For everything.”

Chris Janson, who collaborated with Parton on “21 Forever,” shared a photo performing alongside Parton on Instagram and wished for her to “rest in heaven.”

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“Dolly was a wonderful person, and it stopped me in my tracks hearing of her passing. TRUE ICON, TRUE STAR, and REAL GREAT HUMAN. We’ll always love you, Dolly. My family is grateful the time we got to spend alongside of you. Love, CJ” he wrote.

Trace Adkins acknowledged that it was “rare for the world” to collectively “express sorrow for someone’s passing.”

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“I knew her to be the angel that they think she was, and I’ll miss her. Dolly, I’ll always love you. -Trace” he wrote on Instagram.

Gabby Barrett reflected on her first time meeting Parton in an Instagram post — and she remembered hugging her “a little too hard” because she was so excited.

“I got to pick her brain some about this business and was lucky enough to receive encouragement from her along the way. She sent me a handwritten card with butterflies on it, and I know exactly where that card is in my house. I made a point to keep it forever, and I always will,” Barrett wrote.

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“And crazy enough, Baylah (my 5 year old) just recently asked me, ‘Mom, when am I gonna get to meet Dolly Parton?’ I told her, ‘Hmmm I’m not sure.’ There was just nobody like her. She was so witty and could make you laugh, and then turn around and break your heart with a song,” she concluded. “She was a songwriter and a country music woman through and through. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone so dedicated to this music and to what it means. She gave so much to country music, but I’ll always be especially grateful for the little bit of kindness and encouragement she gave to me. A true treasure who will be missed.”

Georgette Jones, the daughter of the late George Jones and Tammy Wynette, wrote that her family was “very sad” to hear of Parton’s passing on Instagram.

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“She was incredibly talented….as we all know, but she was also a generous, kind and wonderful friend to Mom, Dad and so many others,” she wrote. “She gave so much of herself to help people and children, especially, in need. She will be dearly missed.”

The Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus shared a photo with Parton and began by writing he had “no words.”

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“There was not a kinder, more genuine, loving person than Ms Dolly,” he wrote on Instagram. “What an unbelievable loss, I kinda thought she’d be here forever I guess. Now she’s singing with the other Angels…”

Dasha reshared a post of Parton on her Instagram Stories — and wrote she was “devastated.”

“Dolly thank you for inspiring me and so many others. You’ve done so much good for this world. RIP you legend,” she continued.

Tiera Kennedy shared a photo alongside Parton on Instagram and simply wrote, “Oh Dolly. We will always love you. ♥️.”

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Terri Clark wrote that in losing Parton, country music lost its “matriarch” — and that she was “so much more than an entertainer.”

“She swung the pendulum toward the light in times of darkness. She gave back so much more than she ever took and used her name and influence for the greater good. THAT’S WHY the song ‘What Would Dolly Do’ was written and loved,” Clark wrote on Instagram.

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“The world almost feels off its axis right now, and how we exist in it without her remains to be seen. She taught us so much through her heart and her actions and left behind a legacy of love and light. Now she is in that light with her loved ones and her God. Thank you, Dolly, for inspiration beyond music. Humanity is better because of you,” she continued.

Connie Smith shared two side-by-side photos with Parton over the years on Instagram.

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“God bless you, Dolly. We have always loved and will continue to love you dearly. ❤️,” she wrote.

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