Dolly Parton, 1946-2026: the Queen of Country was a unifying force in a divided world

In 2014, Dolly Parton drew one of the biggest crowds in Glastonbury’s history when she graced the Pyramid Stage for the festival’s coveted Legends slot. An estimated 180,000 punters gathered to watch the Queen of Country strut her stuff, her rhinestone-encrusted suit glistening as she rattled off a rap about the mud on Worthy Farm: “We won’t let it ruin our high.” READ MORE: The Big Read – Dolly Parton: “I take care of business” She even parped away on a saxophone (also covered in rhinestones), playing the novelty instrumental ‘Yakety Sax’ (AKA the theme to The Benny Hill Show). In fact, she played it twice: once forwards, once “backwards” – as in, with her back to the crowd. “I know it was corny, but it was fun,” she joked afterwards. Corny but fun, triumphant in the face of adversity and wearing her undoubted genius with a lightness of touch, this was Dolly Parton all over. The performance introduced the star, who has died at the age of 80, to a whole new generation, proving her long-held talent for unifying audiences. Go to a Dolly Parton gig, and you would meet folks – as she’d likely call them in her downhome Southern patter – from all walks of life. A cheerful contradiction i...