World Mourns Dolly Parton, Music Icon, Dead at 80
The world is remembering the legendary country singer Dolly Parton, who has died from cancer at the age of 80.
One of the people grieving is a 16-year-old Chihuahua named Dolly. The dog is blind and deaf but is described as very vocal and full of personality.
Her owner, Lili McKellar, 28, from London, named her dog after Dolly Parton because the dog has a fiery personality but is also very sweet. Lili says her mother is a huge Dolly Parton fan, and her family grew up listening to her songs. Dolly Parton became “part of our life and part of our house.”
Lili says she is sad that Dolly Parton has died, but she is happy that she still has a small piece of the singer through her dog.
Other animals have also been named after Dolly Parton.
A white Lurcher was found in a tent after the Glastonbury Festival in 2014, the same year Dolly Parton performed there. The dog was named Dolly after the singer. Parton said she felt honoured and even offered to take the dog to the United States if nobody claimed her.
Dolly the sheep, the first successfully cloned mammal, was also named after Dolly Parton. Scientists chose the name because the sheep was cloned from a mammary-gland cell.
Dolly Parton's career in numbers
3,000 songs written
100 million records sold
300 million free books donated to children through her literacy programme
10 Grammy Awards and 54 nominations
140,000 people attended her biggest performance at Glastonbury in 2014
4 million people visit Dollywood and related businesses every year
1 legendary country singer
Dolly Parton's acting career
Dolly Parton was not only a successful singer. She was also a popular actress.
Her big film breakthrough came in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5. She starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.
She played Doralee Rhodes, a funny and warm character. Her performance helped show that successful musicians could also become successful film actors.
She later appeared in films such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Burt Reynolds and Steel Magnolias, which also starred Julia Roberts and Sally Field.
Fans remember Dolly Parton
Many people have shared their memories and tributes.
Colin wrote: “RIP Dolly, the mould was cracked once you were made.”
Mairead from Ireland said that her family listened to Dolly Parton's music during road trips in the 1980s. She said the songs remain very special to her family.
Roseann remembered visiting Dolly Parton's Stampede in Tennessee and described it as an incredible experience.
Steve, another longtime fan, said he has always wanted to visit Dollywood and hopes to go there soon.