Harry Styles surprised fans with a heartfelt salute to the late Dolly Parton as he kicked off his Madison Square Garden residency. The tribute unfolded Wednesday night inside the famed New York City venue.
The former One Direction singer paused during the show to recognize the musicians who have influenced him through the years. His words quickly placed Parton at the center of the sold-out evening, as reported [1] by Page Six.
“I wanna say a proper ‘thank you’ to all the musicians over the years that’ve inspired me,” Styles told the crowd. The 32-year-old singer then offered a direct and loving message for Parton.
“Dolly, we love you, thank you so much,” Styles added. Just a few seconds later, Parton’s biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You,” began playing throughout Madison Square Garden.
Harry Styles pays tribute to Dolly Parton during Night 1 of his tour at MSGhttps://t.co/VJeM23FKhW [2] pic.twitter.com/ANjTm5D8CY [3]
— Variety (@Variety) August 27, 2026 [4]
Styles then asked the sold-out audience to sing along with the song. Fans held up their cell phone lights as the crowd joined together for the musical tribute.
Harry Styles pays emotional tribute to Dolly Parton in New York pic.twitter.com/doRD4BEc90 [5]
— Mukty Muktar (@mukty_muktar) August 27, 2026 [6]
The moment marked a sweet tribute to Parton during the start of Styles’ residency at the New York City venue. It also came only one day after news surfaced that the country star had passed away.
Parton was 80 when she died. The winner of 10 Grammys had secretly been battling cancer before her death, according to the article.
Plans for Parton’s burial were also beginning to emerge following the news. TMZ reported that she will be laid to rest in “a small, private service for immediate family” being planned in Nashville, Tennessee.
Styles was among several musicians who honored Parton after her death. Her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, also shared a deeply personal tribute to the country star on Instagram Wednesday.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” the “Flowers” songstress wrote. Cyrus then explained that some of her most meaningful memories with Parton would remain out of public view.
“Our most sacred moments were private, and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” she added.
The message focused on the private connection that Cyrus and Parton shared away from their public lives.
Cyrus, 33, also revealed what she and Parton had discussed during one of their final exchanges. She said one of her “last conversations” with Parton was about “music and metamorphosis.”
![Dolly Parton, Radiant Queen of Country Music and So Much More, Passes Away at 80 [WATCH] Dolly Parton, Radiant Queen of Country Music and So Much More, Passes Away at 80 [WATCH]](https://www.boredtrashpanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.07.08-17.27-boredtrashpanda-6a4e8891f0bdc-1024x576.jpg)
The pop star closed her tribute by expressing her enduring love for Parton and acknowledging the grief felt by those closest to her. She also addressed the broader sense of loss surrounding the country star’s death.
“I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together, and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things. @dollyparton,” Cyrus concluded.
Parton received additional tributes from numerous major figures following her death. Eminem, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Bob Mackie, and many more celebrities also honored her, while Styles brought her music directly to his Madison Square Garden crowd.