Jelly Roll is serving as the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week. During his opening monologue after learning the news of the passing of Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll shared a heartfelt tribute to the country music icon.
“She was such an inspiration to so many, myself included,” Jelly Roll said. “We’re both from Tennessee, and she meant a lot to my family. We used to sit around the kitchen table and listen to her music together as a family. I’ll never forget it. I learned so much from Dolly over the years, about songwriting, how to handle this crazy business, and how to support your community. So I want to send my love to East Tennessee and Sevier County right now, and represent her.
“We love you, Dolly. We miss you,” he added. “She was infinitely talented. She was relentlessly funny, and adored by all. She might be the last American that everyone liked. We will miss her dearly. Rest in peace, Dolly. We will always love you.”
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What Jelly Roll Says About Dolly Parton
Jelly Roll has been vocal about his respect for Parton. In 2023, he got to meet her for the first time at an event celebrating the release of her rock album, Rockstar.
“Growing up in Tennessee, Dolly Parton was right there next to Jesus, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and college football,” Jelly Roll shared on social media. “Having an opportunity to just express my gratitude for everything Dolly did for my family, music, and Tennessee was a blessing. Many of nights we sat around the kitchen table and [listened to] Dolly Parton. … Everything I’ve ever learned about how to do interviews in the music business and how to carry myself, I’ve learned from watching Dolly Parton. ”
Dolly Parton Unexpectedly Passes Away at 80 Years Old
Fans all over the world were shocked by the news of Parton’s unexpected passed away. Parton was quietly battling some health struggles, although it was not revealed until after she passed away that she had cancer.
It was Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, her longtime head of security, who shared the news of her passing.
“Dolly opened doors not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible,” Seaver said in part. “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent. By her example, we believe that anything is possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open. And the doors she opened made and changed history. My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly.”