‘It’s Hard to Imagine The World Without Her’: Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Reflects on Dolly Parton

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia has paid tribute to the late country music superstar Dolly Parton, describing her as an international icon who made the world a better place in numerous ways. In a social post, Albanese praised her as a singer and songwriter of "rare power and talent," an actor, author, and philanthropist, noting her strong personality and humor.

Parton made a rare visit to Australia in 2011, but red tape threatened to derail the 12-show national tour. The tour bus was deemed too long and wide for Australian roads, but Albanese, who was the federal transport minister at the time, intervened to get the tour going. "One of the joys of my time in Government was when I was able to help Dolly overcome a bit of red tape and get her tour bus on to Australian roads in 2011," Albanese recalled.

Dolly Parton had a special connection with Australia, especially the city of Melbourne, where she received the keys to the city in 1987. The city honored her for her values of creativity and community. In 2014, she returned to Australia for six dates on her Blue Smoke World Tour. Melbourne also granted her the honor of being a UNESCO City of Literature and referenced her song "Workin’ 9 to 5" in a post celebrating her legacy.

Victorian Trades Hall Council, representing thousands of workers, praised Parton's integrity and her efforts to help others. They noted that she could have been a billionaire but chose to uplift the rest of the world, creating jobs, donating to medical research, and being a proud union member. Dolly Parton, named Billboard's top country artist of all time in 2024, left behind a lasting legacy in music and beyond.