Katy Perry calls Dolly Parton ‘the bar’ as she reveals what impressed her most about late icon

'It is not always easy if you’re in the spotlight for decades and decades and decades,' the 41-year-old singer told the audience
Katy Perry honored Dolly Parton after the country icon’s death on August 25 (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Katy Perry honored Dolly Parton after the country icon’s death on August 25 (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Katy Perry honored Dolly Parton by calling her "the bar" following her death in a heartfelt yet lighthearted way during her live performance in Mexico.

The late country legend was 80 when she died on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer. Perry paid tribute to Parton while reflecting on the qualities that made her such an admired figure in the entertainment industry.

Katy Perry says Dolly Parton's biggest quality was 'she was constantly kind'

Several music industry icons mourned her death, with Perry reportedly telling the concertgoers, “She had big brains and a big voice in one body. And on top of that, the biggest thing that she did was that she was constantly kind. She was kind to everyone.”

Katy Perry (L) and Dolly Parton perform onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Katy Perry and Dolly Parton performed onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Continuing further, the 41-year-old singer told the audience, “It is not always easy if you’re in the spotlight for decades and decades and decades. So I just want to send a little love to Miss Dolly Parton. If you haven’t discovered her music, you should really check it out.”

Katy Perry praises Dolly Parton for 'defying the stereotypes for decades'

Also on August 27, Perry shared a lengthy post on Instagram along with multiple snaps and a video with Parton.

She wrote, “Like the rest of the world, my heart sank seeing the news of dear Dolly’s passing. She meant so much to so many people for so long.”

The ‘Roar’ hitmaker also mentioned in her tribute that Parton “defied the stereotypes for decades” by proving that “big brains, and a big voice can all exist in one tiny body! But the biggest thing about her by far was her heart.”

American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton wearing a denim jacket, 1979. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton wore a denim jacket in 1979 (UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

Concluding her post, Perry advised her fans and followers that if they want a role model to “look up to and model your life after, it’s Dolly.”

“Dolly was glam, funny, and kind. Her star will forever shine bright and I bet you she’s already remodeling them pearly gates with rhinestones. We will always love you Dolly!” she added.

Katy Perry says Dolly Parton's 'legacy is one to follow'

Perry’s tribute did not stop there. At the premiere for her concert film ‘Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour — Live from Paris’ in Los Angeles, she called the ‘9 to 5’ hitmaker “such a light”.

Dolly Parton 1978  (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)
Dolly Parton was photographed in 1978 (Chris Walter/WireImage)

Further describing Parton as “an earth angel,” Perry stated, “She was always so wickedly funny. It was amazing. It didn’t seem that she ever had a bad day and if anything she would just make a little joke about it. I think her legacy is one to follow and look up to forever and I think it’s just going to continue to expand. I think everyone should emulate her. She’s the bar.”

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Adam Driver is set to play Mister Sinister in the upcoming 'X-Men' reboot
2026-11-08T07:34:12.000Z
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger spent decades competing for action stardom before a major career shift helped them become friends
2026-11-08T06:46:04.000Z
Vivienne Marcheline Jolie opened up about her hospitalization through an art exhibition featuring hand-drawn illustrations and diary entries
2026-11-08T06:29:04.000Z
Brandon Hall and his wife Jill faced mounting household bills and unfinished work on their 80-acre Arkansas property as their family prepared for a new addition
2026-11-08T05:28:05.000Z
Kimberly Williams-Paisley recalled a three-step trick Patrick Stewart taught her to maintain a serious expression during dramatic scenes
2026-11-08T04:35:04.000Z
Alanis Morissette has been married to hip-hop artist Mario 'Souleye' Treadway since 2010
2026-11-08T03:40:57.000Z
Josh Brolin and Kathryn Boyd Brolin shared glimpses of their Elvis-themed ceremony, attended by their daughters, friends and family
2026-11-08T02:32:11.000Z
Kendall Jenner, who turned 31 on Tuesday, November 3, also shared a picture of herself riding a horse along the beach
2026-11-08T02:20:09.000Z
'I’m just testing it to make sure it’s bad, and it’s still bad. So I’m relieved,' Jesse Eisenberg said
2026-11-07T07:13:26.000Z
Kourtney Kardashian explained how ongoing home renovations affected the family's living arrangements while addressing speculation about her marriage
2026-11-07T06:09:21.000Z