Reese Witherspoon may not be who she is today without the love and kindness of the late Dolly Parton.
The “Legally Blonde” star shared a heartfelt memory of the beloved country music icon hours after news broke of her passing.
Reese Remembers Dolly
Witherspoon had a special relationship with the “9 to 5” artist, who passed away tragically on Tuesday, August 25.
“I count my lucky stars that I called Dolly my friend,” Witherspoon shared via Instagram. “When I was playing June Carter Cash in ‘Walk the Line’, she took me to dinner and told me stories of how June Carter charmed everyone in country music. Dolly gave me the courage to put my whole spirit into that performance and made me see how lucky I was to be a storyteller. Throughout my entire career, she sent me little notes of encouragement and support, telling me to be the light in people’s lives and listen to my angels. Always signed: ‘I will always love you.’ 🦋.”
The Academy Award winner added, “Dolly, I miss you already. Your talent, your wisdom and your beautiful spirit lit up our lives. Go soar with your angels…. We will always love you. ❤️.”
Witherspoon’s statement was shared alongside a clip of the actress thanking Dolly for “inspiring her.”
“You continue to inspire me. I’ve always wanted to be more like you,” she said through tears in the throwback video.
Dolly joked, “Well, don’t be like me. Be like you!”
Reese added, “I’ll be me, but you do inspire me and I think you inspire so many people with your positivity. The warmth and the kindness, it just comes off of you.”
The “Sweet Home Alabama” star later shared another throwback video of herself honoring Dolly at the Kennedy Center Honors.
“Back in 2006 at the Kennedy Center Honors, I had the incredible privilege of celebrating a woman who meant so much to me and so many. Dolly inspired generations of women to dream bigger, work harder and do it all while staying true to themselves. ❤️,” she wrote alongside the clip.
Dolly’s Passing
The family of the “I Will Always Love You” artist announced her death via social media with a video message shared by her nephew.
“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. This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he began. “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. 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.”
He continued, “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.”
Dolly was 80 years old.
