Tributes pour in for American singer Dolly Parton
Singer and entertainer, Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80.
The death of American singer, songwriter and entertainer Dolly Parton, who was 80 years old, has sparked an outpouring of tributes from around the globe. Dolly Parton was a beloved figure not only in America, but also across the world, including fans purportedly including former South African president Nelson Mandela. The news of Parton's passing was announced by her family at the age of 80.
Tributes have been streaming in from all walks of life as people pay their respects to the icon. Born into modest circumstances in a one-room cabin in rural Tennessee, Parton climbed to the pinnacle of entertainment stardom, becoming an emblem of country music and a recognizable name through chart-topping hits like "Jolene" and "Islands in the Stream."
Anti-apartheid activist Tokyo Sexwale, who was imprisoned alongside Mandela, revealed that when Mandela was permitted to select music to broadcast throughout the prison system, he opted for Parton's "Jolene." In addition to her musical achievements, Parton also graced the silver screen, starring in films such as "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias."
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