Emily Eavis says Dolly Parton was an “absolute delight” when she played Glastonbury in 2014.
The festival organiser was overjoyed to get to book the country music icon for the coved Sunday afternoon legends slot on the Pyramid Stage over a decade ago, and Emily has reflected on the special weekend following Dolly’s death on Tuesday (25.08.26) at the age of 80.
She wrote on Instagram: “Oh Dolly, what an untouchable legend.
“I will never forget her coming here in 2014 and bringing her incredible songs, overflowing joy and wonderful spirit to Worthy Farm.
“We had always dreamt of booking her for Glastonbury and I started to think that maybe it would never happen, but the stars aligned and she finally said yes..
“From the moment she arrived, she was an absolute delight, just so lovely. There was a vast crowd in the field for her slot, the sun shone, and when she walked out on to the Pyramid stage she reigned supreme. It was just magic.
“Thank you for it all, Dolly.”
Dolly played a set packed with hits, deep cuts and covers, going from Jolene and 9 to 5 to her own rendition of tracks like Bon Jovi’s Lay Your Hands On me.
She brought her set to a close with I Will Always Love You, and even played a brand new track Mud Song about the festival.
Fans were reminiscing about the gig after the news of her death.
One fan on X shared pictures from the festival that year, and simply wrote: “Glastonbury 2014 – what a day!”
Another social media user added: “Seeing Dolly at Glastonbury in 2014 was an unexpected highlight. Her storytelling and ability to entertain was a real gift.”
Others hailed her performance as “one of the best Glastonbury Legend Slots”, and “one of the best afternoons of my life”.
At the time, Emily raved in a Q+A on the Glastonbury website: “Oh, Dolly was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here. She is just a truly amazing live performer.
“Her voice was incredible. And she wrote that song about mud in the morning before the show! I don’t think you can beat that performance as a perfect moment here at Glastonbury.”
Dolly’s death was announced in a video from her nephew Bryan Seaver, in a post shared with fans on social media.
He said: “My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.
“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Her representative later confirmed she had died after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”.
They added: “Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”
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