Sarah McLachlan and Olivia Rodrigo made sure to pay homage to “goddess” Dolly Parton while hitting the stage at the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Festival days after the country icon’s death.
“I wanna slow things down and make everyone cry a little bit, hopefully,” McLachlan, 58, said as she joined festival organizer and headliner Rodrigo, 23, for a Saturday, August 29, duet of her hit song “Angel.”
McLachlan went on to explain, “I wanna dedicate this song tonight to the OG, matriarch, beautiful goddess of country music. The biggest philanthropist in the history of country music, Dolly Parton.”
McLachlan then broke into the powerful and touching song, playing piano and singing alongside Rodrigo as a black-and-white photo of Parton appeared on the screen behind them.
“We will always love you, Dolly,” the screen read as the song came concluded.
McLachlan, who joined Rodrigo on stage for a few duets during the Irvine, California, show, was one of many musicians and celebrities who have shared tributes to Parton since her death on Tuesday, August 25 at the age of 80.
Parton’s nephew and bodyguard confirmed her death on Tuesday, revealing, “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.”
The “I Will Always Love You” singer’s rep confirmed the news as well, saying in a statement, “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”
The statement continued, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. … Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Us later confirmed that the Grammy winner had died following a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer.
Parton was laid to rest at Nashville’s Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum alongside her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, on Friday, August 28. (Dean died in 2025 at the age of 82.)
“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Taylor Swift told Us in a statement at the time. “But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.”
Parton’s 9 to 5 costar Jane Fonda shared her own tribute via Instagram, writing, “I am devastated. I just learned that Dolly has moved on. 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.”
Country singer Kacey Musgraves added via X, “Dolly. This really really hurts. The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden. So glad she’s with her [late husband] Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.”
Read the full article here
