All the moving tributes to Dolly Parton: 'Millions are mourning'

The biggest names in music and Hollywood are mourning the death of Dolly Parton, from Taylor Swift to Jane Fonda.

The "Queen of Country" died on Aug. 25 at age 80, Parton's family revealed in a video statement. Representatives for Parton said the musician was privately battling cancer.

In a statement shared with USA TODAY, Swift said that a world without Parton doesn't feel "possible, real or right" but that her legacy will be "an everlasting one."

"She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals," Swift said. "Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously. 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."

Parton had been facing health issues in the last year of her life and had canceled a number of public appearances prior to her death.

Swift said the Grammy-winning singer was "true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person," adding, "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."

"Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it," Swift concluded. "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. Dolly, I'll think of you each step of the way."

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is mourning her partner in crime, Dolly Parton.

The Oscar-winning actress, who costarred with Parton in the iconic '80s comedy "9 to 5," paid tribute to the country music legend in an emotional Instagram tribute.

"I am devastated. I just learned that Dolly has moved on," Fonda, 88, wrote. "I know that millions are mourning, and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever."

Fonda lauded Parton's extensive catalogue, spanning music and film, as well as her philanthropic work with the Dollywood Foundation. "Let's be grateful for all that she has left us to ease our sadness now," the actress added.

"I never knew anyone like her," Fonda wrote. "She had a survivor’s instinct and seemed to always know just what to do, just what to say, to make things right … and then she [would] stick her butt out the car window and moon Kenny Rogers' home. She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy. That's something of hers she'd want us all to take with us."

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone, who sang alongside the country music legend in the 1984 flop "Rhinestone," remembered Parton with an Aug. 26 Instagram video, referring to the singer-actress as a warm and universally loved co-star who greeted everyone on the "Rhinestone" set. Stallone told his most vivid memory: A horseback outing in Tennessee when the pair climbed aboard a massive Tennessee Walking Horse. "It was like riding a building," Stallone said.

"We look glamorous up there. And then the horse stubs its toe. It trips, and then we start to roll forward," Stallone recalled. "It’s like everything’s going in slow motion and Dolly’s going, ‘Are we falling?’ I go, ‘We are falling.’"

Despite the fall, Parton emerged laughing and immediately suggested, “Let’s do that again.” Stallone closed his tribute simply: “I miss you Dolly. I love you. Sad.”

Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt, who collaborated with Parton and Emmylou Harris on the iconic country album "Trio," paid tribute to their artistic relationship in a statement to USA TODAY.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Dolly Parton," Ronstadt, 80, said. "One of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life was recording with her. The world is a poorer place without her."

'Steel Magnolias' stars Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine

Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Shirley MacLaine, who costarred with Parton in the '80s dramedy "Steel Magnolias," paid tribute to their fellow leading lady.

"If there are truly angels on earth, then we have just lost one, Dolly Parton," Field wrote on Instagram alongside a throwback cast photo, which also featured costars Roberts, MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis. "There will never be another. I adored her with all my heart and will always cherish our time together. Forever. Rest in peace beautiful Dolly."

"Dolly was a magical and joyous human," Roberts said in a statement. "I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today."

MacLaine echoed Roberts' sentiment in a statement to USA TODAY, saying, "God sent her to us, and she has returned home."

Hollywood stars mourn Dolly Parton: Jamie Lee Curtis, Rosie O'Donnell, Sarah Jessica Parker and more

Jamie Lee Curtis praised Parton's enduring legacy in an Instagram post, which featured a photo of the women posing together.

"They say don't meet your heroes," Curtis wrote. "Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write 'I Will Always Love You' as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all."

Carol Burnett, who costarred with Parton in the 1979 TV special "Dolly & Carol in Nashville," fondly recalled her time working with the singer.

"I'm so sad right now," Burnett wrote on Instagram. "One of my favorite memories was taping the special 'Carol and Dolly' in Nashville. We shot the week of Thanksgiving and Dolly made individual turkey dinners for every one of us, that she cooked herself. We were a family. That's who she was."

Sarah Jessica Parker was one of Parton's biggest fans.

"No!!!!!! I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her," Parker wrote on Instagram. "I don't think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real."

Aside from Parton's musical prowess, Parker said the singer was "always advocating for those she knew and understood needed a champion."

"What a loss," Parker concluded. "But aren't we so lucky, so fortunate for the endless gifts she shared with the world. Godspeed and RIP. You will be terribly missed."

Comedian Leanne Morgan said there was "just nobody like" Parton in an interview with USA TODAY.

While the "I'm Every Woman" comic never got to meet the iconic performer, she said she frequently took her children to Parton's famed Tennessee theme park, Dollywood.

"I know that she's in glory because she always talked about her faith. And this always impressed me with Dolly − and I looked up to her for a number of reasons − but she was always authentically herself," Morgan added. "And I'm from the country [Adams, Tennessee]. ... And I thought, 'If she can do that, I can do that, and I can be myself, and I don't have to be ashamed of where I'm from.' "

Comedian and talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell also shared a tribute about Parton, who previously appeared as a guest on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," and posted several videos about the singer's death on her Instagram story.

"This earth angel has gone back to heaven where she came from - heartbroken," she wrote in an Aug. 25 Instagram post.

Kristin Chenoweth said she was "immediately heartbroken" when she learned of Parton's death with the rest of the world.

"I met Dolly on several occasions and she always made me feel like one of her own. She even agreed to sing with me on one of my records," she wrote while sharing a photo of the two together. "My ultimate inspiration. The world has lost one of the best but I know we will never forget her because she is impossible to forget. I love you Dolly and I will ALWAYS love you."

Actress and director Goldie Hawn shared a black-and-white photo of the day she met Parton in an Aug. 25 Instagram post.

"She was a ray of light! Even then, she was lit up like an angel, a joyful, celestial being," she wrote. "Dolly blessed us all for generations to come. Rest, dear angel, and, as you said, keep the angels creating music and singing in the heavens."

Ethan Hawke took to Instagram to share a photo of himself meeting the music legend and said that everything people say about the country icon is true.

"Deep, serious, playful, loving, wise…. A woman of integrity. A North Star," the "Dead Poets Society" actor wrote. "She knew how to make a positive impact and have a laugh while doing it. I left her presence lighter and charged to be better."

Country stars remember Dolly Parton: Reba McEntire, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tim McGraw and more

Fellow country singer Reba McEntire, who collaborated with Parton on the 2021 duet "Does He Love You," mourned Parton's death in a lengthy Instagram post.

"Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side," McEntire wrote alongside a photo of the pair. "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. There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang."

McEntire added that the singer was going to "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," McEntire concluded. "I will always love you."

Billy Ray Cyrus, a longtime friend of Parton's, wrote in an Aug. 25 Instagram post that he has "so many moments and memories with Dolly, it's hard to know where to start."

"Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms," he wrote.

The two have long crossed paths in Nashville and Hollywood, including on the set of Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana," where Parton played the godmother of Miley Cyrus' titular character.

"Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart," he added. "I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will."

Country music star Blake Shelton, who worked with Parton when she guest starred on "The Voice," said Parton's death is "truly a loss for the entire world."

"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 [Stefani] 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," Shelton added. "It was like being with the funniest, most loving, most caring and closest member of your family. ... We love you Dolly."

On Instagram, Tim McGraw paid his respects to the fellow country music icon, who he said "showed us all what was possible, not only as a human but as an entertainer."

"She was the blueprint, head and shoulders above anyone that came before her and all those of us that have come after. Everything she did, she did it with kindness, grace and that famous wit and smile. It's been hard to not be in tears all day. There will never be another Dolly Parton," he wrote.

On his Instagram page, Zac Brown paid his respects to a "real angel," admiring Parton's Christian faith and impact.

"There will never be another Dolly Parton," the Zac Brown Band frontman wrote alongside a video of himself and his "Butterfly" collaborator. "Pure talent, pure soul, pure love. She lived by example. My wife and I are heartbroken but so blessed to know her heart. Dolly is a national treasure. She sang her heart out on Butterfly, and I will never forget the first time that I heard what she sang on it and how much she loved that song."

He continued: "I believe she would want us to celebrate her life, be true to who we are, and show each other love and kindness. She loved Jesus and lived like He did, by example. Thank you, Dolly, for all the love and music you put into this world. You will live on in your songs and in all of our hearts."

"Golden Hour" singer Kacey Musgraves shared a brief tribute to the country music legend, expressing gratitude that she is with her late husband, Carl Dean, now.

"So glad she's with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today," she wrote on X.

"The Middle" singer Maren Morris shared a video of herself and Parton singing together in her Instagram tribute.

"There will never be another. [Dolly Parton] was who we could all agree on. She was and is such a light. 💔" she captioned the video.

Fellow musicians pay tribute to Dolly Parton: Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Paul McCartney and more

Katy Perry remembered Dolly Parton as an "earth angel" while speaking on Aug. 26 at The Grove in Los Angeles for an IMAX screening of "Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris." Trafalgar Releasing will bring the concert film to theaters worldwide beginning Sept. 2.

"I think we're all still processing because she was such a light," Perry said, praising Parton's philanthropy and work promoting childhood literacy. "Her light ripples and will forever ripple."

Perry also remembered Parton as "wickedly funny," adding, "I think her legacy is one to follow and look up to forever… everyone should emulate her. She's kind of like the bar."

Eminem shared a note Parton sent him in 2022 when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

"I'm sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me," he wrote in the post's caption. "She definitely didn't have to take the time to do it. Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words."

In her note, Parton said that even though she didn't know much about the rap genre, she said it was clear the "Lose Yourself" emcee was "the very best of it."

"Aside from that, I hope what I have to say will not seem weird or strange to you, but I have always felt some unexplained connection to you, like I know you somehow. I had hoped to meet you at the show, but you know how those things are. Personally, I hate them, and I missed my chance, but maybe someday we'll meet," she wrote. "No matter how complex your world may be, just know that you are very special and touch people in ways you don't even know."

Kelly Clarkson, who collaborated with Parton on a remake of her iconic anthem "9 to 5," praised the singer for her musical talent and warm character in an Instagram post.

"Dolly Parton had a way of making everyone feel special, and seen, and welcomed, and as if you were old friends," Clarkson wrote.

"I will miss her heart and her voice as I am sure millions will," Clarkson added. "What an incredible gift and talent she was and still is with an amazing catalogue of art she has left behind for all of us."

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger praised Parton's musical chops in an Instagram post.

"What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was," Jagger wrote. "She brought so many people together. We will all miss her so much."

In a lengthy Instagram tribute, Beatle Paul McCartney said it "is difficult to take in the news" that Parton had died.

"She was such a wonderful woman. I first met her in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry, where she had been playing with the country star Porter Wagoner and was about to start her solo career," McCartney wrote alongside a black-and-white throwback photo.

"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," McCartney wrote. "She was a very clever businesswoman who understood the value of her music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world.

"There was no greater honor for me than to have her sing my song 'Let It Be' and, even though I only made a small contribution to it, I am so honored that she did it. I am so proud to have known her and admire her unique talents. Thanks Dolly for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world. We will always love you."

In an Instagram statement, Americana songstress Brandi Carlile said Parton "traded in her butterfly wings today." She shared that she'd been sensing Parton's death all week and had been singing her 1971 song, "Coat of Many Colors," and asking others to pray every day for an unknown reason.

"She took my face in her hands and prayed over me once," she wrote. "I've never been the same since. Her prayers were maybe more powerful than mine or anyone else's because that prayer has had a very long rainbow-colored halo and I hope it lasts me my whole life."

She continued: "I'm married to an agnostic Londoner, and I can’t help but laugh out loud when I think of the raptured audience at Glastonbury in the palm of Dolly’s hands, as she ended her once in a lifetime set by shouting 'Can I get an amen?!' The sound of two hundred thousand immediate British 'AMENS' is something that causes me to burst into American hysterics at least once a week!"

Public figures honor Dolly Parton: Hillary Clinton, Jeff Bezos and more

Former first lady Hillary Clinton commended Parton for her "great heart."

"Dolly Parton did all the good she could, for all the people she could, for as long as ever she could," Clinton wrote in a social media post. "From her legendary songwriting to the Imagination Library, which sent 1 million books a month to children across the country, she was the best of America."

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also sang the singer's praises.

"Dolly spent her whole life showing us what it means to lead with love. Lauren and I are so grateful to have known her," Bezos wrote on Instagram. "She lifted everyone with her music, her generosity, and her joy. Sending our sincere condolences to her family and everyone she touched."

Emmy-winning choreographer Derek Hough said he was heartbroken to hear about Parton's death in an Aug. 25 Instagram post. He described Parton as "an absolute icon, a true legend not just for her music, but for her spirit, her kindness, her joy, her light."

"I was lucky enough to share the stage with her, something I will never take for granted," he wrote while referring to her 2007 appearance on "Dancing with The Stars," where she performed "9 to 5." "Her music and the way she made people feel will live on forever. Sending love to all she touched. Thank you, Dolly. You will never be forgotten."

Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, Brendan Morrow and Erin Jensen, USA TODAY; Devarrick Turner, Knoxville News Sentinel