Beatles icon Paul McCartney remembers the life and legacy of beloved country music legend Dolly Parton.
In a touching tribute posted hours after her death, McCartney recalled the first time he met the “I Will Always Love You” artist.
Paul Remembers Dolly
McCartney took to social media on Tuesday, August 25, to share a heartfelt tribute to the late “9 to 5” artist.
“The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad,” he wrote alongside a two throwback photos with Dolly. “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. She was so bubbly and full of life it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed.”
He continued, “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. She was a very clever business woman 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 honour 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 honoured that she did it. I am so proud to have known her and admire her unique talents.”
McCartney went on to thank Dolly for the “beautiful music you gave me and the whole world.”
“We will always love you, god bless and rest in peace. You were the best,” he concluded.
Dolly’s Passing
Dolly’s family shared the news of her passing with a heartbreaking social media video on Tuesday. Her nephew delivered the news, saying that Dolly asked him years ago to be the one to deliver the video announcement.
“My name is Brin Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” Dolly’s nephew began. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
He added, “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Dolly — who was 80 years old at the time of her death — lost her husband, Carl Thomas Dean in 2025. She is survived by six siblings.
“My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly. But so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD and on your phone’s playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not,” Seaver added.
