Sabrina Carpenter, Oprah Winfrey and more honor Dolly Parton at CMA Celebration of Life
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton and her legacy were honored during the Country Music Association’s celebration of life event on Wednesday, October 21, night.
The ceremony was held nearly two months after Parton’s death on August 25. She was 80 and died after a brief battle with cancer.
Oprah Winfrey says Dolly Parton was 'authentic all the time'
The Wednesday event began with Oprah Winfrey’s tribute, which appeared in a pre-recorded video. She said, as per Variety, “We’re both Tennessee girls, and she represented to me the essence of being 100% who you see yourself to be. Authentic all the time, and I just loved her for it.”
The media mogul further mentioned how strong-willed the late legend was as she shared, “If she put her mind to something, that was it. And I love that she was so generous of heart and generous of spirit, and her presence here on Earth will be felt for forever because the spirit that is so strong that was hers is actually everlasting.”
Julia Roberts remembers Dolly Parton as a 'shining example of remembering who you are'
Julia Roberts, who co-starred with Parton in ‘Steel Magnolias’, revealed her experience of working with her.
“Dolly came into my life when I was in my early 20s, and it was magical to see someone so alive, so present. She really was a shining example of remembering who you are, where you came from, and what it means to be kind. We love her,” the actress explained.
Calling her “the Great Unifier,” Katy Perry’s tribute noted that Parton “had this ability to bring people together from all walks of life, political perspectives and sexual orientations. She saw beyond those labels because she saw the humanity in everyone. For me, Dolly is the blueprint.”
Sabrina Carpenter claims 'there’s nobody like Dolly'
Sabrina Carpenter said the ‘I Will Always Love You’ hitmaker “meant lightness” to her.
“She meant kindness, joy, quick comebacks, rhinestones, big hair, family, radiance, and love. I think Dolly was one of the only people on planet Earth that everyone could universally agree on, which I think is very special in any artist. But there’s nobody like Dolly,” the singer, 27, added.
Carol Burnett reveals Dolly Parton made food for her
Carol Burnett, 93, recalled her first interaction with Parton while filming the 1979 CBS television variety special ‘Dolly & Carol in Nashville’.
“When I talk about thoughtful, I remember there was one night I was in my hotel room getting ready to go out to dinner to a restaurant, and there was a knock at the door, and I opened it, and there was Dolly with a home-cooked meal for me, so that I wouldn’t have to go out to a restaurant, and to top it off, that home-cooked meal was home-cooked by Dolly herself,” she revealed.
