“It’s difficult to imagine a world without Dolly Parton—it hardly feels real or even right. Yet the extraordinary generosity she showed throughout her life, along with the countless people she uplifted, ensures that her legacy will endure forever,” Swift said in a statement to E! News. “She truly was a gift that never stopped giving.”
Swift said Parton inspired people to admire her while still embracing their own individuality. “She taught us about life with a rare combination of kindness, honesty and humor,” she said. “She could preserve a sense of mystery and magic around parts of her world while remaining completely open about what mattered most. Dolly embodied grace and determination at the same time—a dazzling woman with deep compassion for other people’s hardships and an unshakable strength when it came to protecting her own worth as an artist.”
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The singer-songwriter also expressed her deep gratitude for everything Parton gave to the world.
“I’m thankful for the songs and lyrics she created that could melt even the hardest hearts; for the millions of books she placed in children’s hands around the world, helping them discover the same love of reading and storytelling she had; and for the risks she took so girls like me could grow up imagining a life as exciting as joining the circus,” Swift added. “Dolly, I’ll carry the thought of you with me every step of the way.”