Beyoncé has paid tribute to Dolly Parton following the legendary country singer’s death on Tuesday at age 80, celebrating the icon’s profound impact and their recent collaboration on the 2024 album Cowboy Carter, per vibe.com.
The music superstar shared a heartfelt statement on her website, praising Parton as a bold, brilliant force and her personal north star. Beyoncé expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside the icon, highlighting Parton’s generosity, humor, and trailblazing career.
The two artists collaborated closely on Cowboy Carter, which featured a reimagined version of Parton’s 1973 classic hit “Jolene.” Parton also contributed memorable spoken-word interludes to the project, including a comedic nod to Beyoncé’s 2016 track on the interlude “Dolly P” and an introduction on the track “Tyrant.”
Prior to the album’s release, Parton publicly championed Beyoncé’s historic crossover into country music, celebrating her milestone as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”