Country music artist Kacey Musgraves paid emotional tribute to Dolly Parton during a performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening, one week following the legendary musician’s passing at age 80. The artist took time to address the crowd directly, expressing her continued grief over the loss and acknowledging Parton’s profound influence on her career and the broader music industry. Musgraves described Parton as a “supernova of a person” and emphasized how instrumental the country icon had been to her own artistic journey.
During the Middle of Nowhere Tour stop in New York, Musgraves performed a cover of Parton’s signature 1980 hit “9 to 5,” the iconic workplace anthem that has remained culturally relevant for decades. The performance marked another moment in which Musgraves has honored her musical predecessor since Parton’s death, having previously performed her original song “Rainbow” at a Boston concert the week before.
In her remarks to the Madison Square Garden audience, Musgraves reflected on Parton’s legacy as a cultural matriarch, comparing her historical significance to royalty. She spoke about finding solace in the idea that Parton’s spiritual essence would continue to exist as part of the broader universe. Parton was laid to rest following a private funeral service in Nashville attended exclusively by immediate family members on August 28.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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