Sabrina Carpenter mourns Dolly Parton: 'There will never be another you'
By Neil Ramos
At A Glance
- Sabrina Carpenter paid tribute to Dolly Parton, remembering the country music icon's warmth, humor and lasting legacy following her death at 80.
Sabrina Carpenter is mourning Dolly Parton, the country music legend she got to know while working with her on one of her biggest pop hits.
Carpenter and Parton teamed up in 2025 for a remix of "Please Please Please," with Parton also appearing in the music video. What started as a collaboration left Carpenter with memories she says she will carry with her.
"Oh dolly ????," Carpenter wrote in her tribute.
She recalled meeting Parton for the first time and being immediately struck by her presence.
"The only thing I could say after we first met was 'she really is an angel walking the earth' and 'we look like we could be sisters!'" Carpenter said.
Beyond their work together, Carpenter said it was Parton's personality that made their time together especially memorable.
"I will cherish our laughter and conversations and I will keep your wisdom, your playful outlook on life, and perfect sense of humor in my pocket for the rainy days," she wrote.
For Carpenter, Parton's appeal went far beyond the songs that made her a household name. She pointed to the combination of talent, warmth and personality that made the singer-songwriter so difficult to replace.
"There will never be another you and how lucky are we all to have experienced your singular magic as well as your once in a lifetime voice, songs, and heart," Carpenter wrote.
She ended her tribute with a simple declaration of love.
"Your light will be something the world will search forever to find again ???????????? i will always love you."
Parton died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80.
Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death on Instagram.
Seaver revealed that Parton had asked him years ago to make the announcement when the time came. He had served as her head of security for more than two decades, taking over the role from his father, Larry.
For Seaver, the moment brought both pride and grief. But he said the sadness belonged to those left behind, not to Parton.
"Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens," he said.