Paul McCartney Remembers Dolly Parton, From Their First Grand Ole Opry Meeting to the Beatles Classic She Later Made Her Own
Paul McCartney has paid a deeply personal tribute to Dolly Parton, looking back on a friendship and musical connection that stretched from her early days alongside Porter Wagoner to a collaboration that brought two of music’s most enduring legacies together.
Following Parton’s death at age 80, McCartney shared his memories of the country legend on Instagram, describing the news as difficult to comprehend and celebrating not only her music, but also the warmth, intelligence and generosity that defined her life.
“The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman,” McCartney wrote.
For the former Beatle, the memories went back decades — to a time before Parton had become the global superstar generations would come to know.
McCartney remembers meeting a young Dolly Parton in Nashville
McCartney recalled first encountering Parton at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, when she was still performing with country star Porter Wagoner and preparing to establish herself as a solo artist.
“I first met her in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry where she had been playing with the country star Porter Wagoner and was about to start her solo career,” he remembered.
Even then, Parton’s personality made an impression.
“She was so bubbly and full of life it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed,” McCartney wrote.
What followed was a career that transformed Parton into one of country music’s defining figures. McCartney highlighted the extraordinary range of her achievements, pointing to her work as a songwriter and performer as well as the philanthropy that became an important part of her legacy.
“Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly,” he wrote.
More than a country music superstar
McCartney also remembered Parton as someone who understood the business behind her enormous catalog and the importance of retaining the value of her work.
He described her as “a very clever business woman who understood the value of her music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world.”
It was a tribute that reflected the many sides of Parton’s career. Her public identity stretched far beyond her recordings, with her influence reaching songwriting, entertainment, business and philanthropy.
But for McCartney, one particular musical moment held special meaning.
Dolly Parton brought McCartney and Ringo Starr to ‘Let It Be’
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Decades after their first meeting, Parton chose to record one of the Beatles’ most recognizable songs, “Let It Be,” for her Rockstar album.
Her version created a remarkable connection between the country legend and the surviving Beatles, with both McCartney and Ringo Starr contributing to the recording.
For McCartney, hearing Parton perform a song he had written was an honor in itself.
“There was no greater honour for me than to have her sing my song Let It Be and, even though I only made a small contribution to it, I am so honoured that she did it,” he wrote.
The collaboration became a striking meeting point between artists whose careers had traveled through different musical worlds but had each endured across generations.
McCartney added: “I am so proud to have known her and admire her unique talents.”
A final farewell from one music legend to another
Parton’s family confirmed her death Tuesday, with her nephew Bryan Seaver announcing the news.
Seaver explained that making the announcement was something Parton herself had asked him to do years earlier.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said.
McCartney was among numerous figures from music and entertainment who subsequently shared memories and tributes. Kacey Musgraves, Jane Fonda and Billy Ray Cyrus were also among those honoring Parton.
Yet McCartney’s remembrance carried the perspective of someone who had witnessed different chapters of her extraordinary journey firsthand: from seeing her around the beginning of her solo career at the Grand Ole Opry to eventually joining her on a recording of one of his own most famous compositions.
He closed his message with a simple expression of gratitude.
“Thanks Dolly for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world,” McCartney wrote. “We will always love you, god bless and rest in peace. You were the best.”