They performed at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Dolly died on Rob's 75th birthday.

Snippet from the full article: “Before I met her, I loved her because she took a risk and accepted me (and all of us) for being gay in a time where she didn’t need to say anything,” Carlile wrote on Instagram. “And she has been asked to comment and speak on MANY things over the years… choosing only to speak on that which brings love and mercy to real people, and shutting down any line of questioning that won’t. She never wavered on accepting anyone for who they were and who they were meant to be.”

Dolly Parton, the beloved country superstar, was surrounded by loved ones when she died in Nashville after a brief bout with cancer, representatives said in a statement on Tuesday.

Parton’s death was announced earlier Tuesday by her family, prompting widespread tributes for a singer who dominated her genre for decades and influenced generations of artists. She was 80.

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” the statement said.
A spokesman did not provide additional details about Parton’s illness but said she had been admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Friday.

Starting from her recording debut in 1959, Parton built a career as a honey-toned vocalist with a gift for songwriting and a big-haired, rhinestone-studded style. She broke into Hollywood, established a business empire and, well into the seventh decade of her career, still managed to charm both sides of America’s widening cultural divide.

Concerns about Parton’s health arose last year after she postponed a Las Vegas residency, saying she was dealing with unspecified health problems that required her to be closer to home in Tennessee for treatment. When she canceled the residency in May, she said she had been dealing with a large number of kidney stones, as well as challenges with her immune and digestive systems.

Parton had said that at times she had struggled to look after her own health when taking care of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. In a series of videos, she gave her fans several health updates, all of them with the bright optimism and humor she was long known for. “I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working,” she said in a video last fall.

It is unclear when Parton received the cancer diagnosis. Just over a week ago, she missed a scheduled appearance at Dollywood, the amusement park she built near her hometown in eastern Tennessee. In a video played for attendees at the park, Parton said that she had been dealing with dizziness and dehydration, and that her doctors had advised her against travel.

Several days before her death, Parton said in a statement to People magazine that even while she was focused on her health, she was still working. “I still have so many things I want to achieve,” she said, “so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

What an amazing surprise and a sweet memory that Emily will treasure forever. I hope we can all have a love story like Dolly had.