What an incredibly sad day for country music.
Just hours ago, news broke that legendary country artist, actress, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton, passed away in Nashville at the age of 80 years old, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades and left an immeasurable mark in not only country music, but all of America.
Following the heartbreaking news, many country artists took to social media to honor the singer/songwriter. From George Strait to Blake Shelton, Reba and Brad Paisley, the entire country music community’s love for Dolly has been on full display.
For Carrie Underwood, however, Parton was far more than simply another legendary name. She was someone the American Idol alum had openly admired throughout her career, both for her music and for the way she carried herself off the stage. The two also performed together on several memorable occasions…
Underwood was among the artists who honored Parton during the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors, joining a star-studded group that included Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Alison Krauss (you can watch the full event here). More than a decade later, Underwood, Parton and McEntire came together to co-host the 53rd annual CMA Awards in 2019.
One of Underwood’s most emotional tributes to Parton, however, came just last year. During Opry 100: A Live Celebration in March 2025, Underwood joined Reba, Lady Antebellum and a plethora of other Opry members for a massive performance of Parton’s iconic “I Will Always Love You.” Parton was unable to attend the celebration following the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, earlier that month.
Now, just over a year later, Underwood is among countless artists across country music paying their respects to the woman whose songs, personality and generosity helped define the genre for generations. On Instagram, she wrote:
“She’s not gone. I know exactly where she is. She was the epitome of faith, grace, talent, beauty and humor. She had a humble heart for Jesus and made everyone around her feel special. She was probably the one person on planet Earth that everyone loved and could agree on. She was a one of one and no one will ever come close. It’s alright to be sad that this world lost a legend, but heaven gained an angel. Well done, good and faithful Dolly. Welcome home.”
Rest easy, Dolly.