On August 25, the world lost a true icon with the passing of Dolly Parton. Parton passed away at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, and her death has left fans across the world feeling heartbroken over the loss of a great light in the world.
Following her death, tributes quickly began pouring in from those who have had the honor of working with her over the years as well as the many millions more whose lives Parton touched through her music and philanthropy work. While Parton never crossed paths with the One Chicago franchise, the stars from NBC’s first responder franchise have been among those feeling the weight of Parton’s death and mourning the loss of a true icon.
Former Chicago Med star Yaya DaCosta was among the first members of the One Chicago family to take to social media to remember Parton, paying tribute to the woman behind one of the most iconic songs of all-time: “I Will Always Love You.” DaCosta famously played Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic, Whitney, and shared a clip from the film in honoring Parton.
“Dear Dolly, Thank you for this ballad. Thank you for your prolific catalog of work. Thank you for your consciousness and allyship. Thank you for your effervescent spirit. It lives on… And WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU,” DaCosta wrote.
DaCosta was one of several former Chicago Med stars who took to Instagram to pay tribute to Parton.
"Rest in Heaven, Dolly. Well done," wrote Guy Lockard via Instagram Stories. Fellow alum Kristen Hager, who also joined Chicago Med for a one-season arc in season 7, also remembered Parton via Instagram Stories, thanking the legendary singer and songwriter for sharing her gifts with the world.
"This one hurts," Hager began. "The best there ever was. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world (and I am certain my daughter chose her name before she was born and whispered it in my ear as clear as day)... RIP Dolly Parton; we will miss you forever."
Like many, current Chicago Med star Steven Weber felt the weight of Parton's loss, recognizing her unique ability to bring joy and unite individuals through her music and many philanthropic causes.
“Another decent human being has left this hard, hard world. A force for unity and a bringer of joy. A compassionate philanthropist. A music legend. The best of CW. Thank you for all you did for all of us,” wrote Weber.
Chicago PD alum Sophia Bush also took a moment to pay tribute to Parton by reflecting on the legendary singer’s enduring impact, not only as an entertainer but also as a champion for countless causes and communities. In remembering Parton, Bush highlighted the generosity, advocacy, and kindness that defined her life and career:
“Whether she was loud or quiet, in rooms full of cameras or rooms where there were none, Dolly was an advocate for all of us. From her library that mailed (hundreds of!) millions of free children’s books, or her outspoken defense of women everywhere, or her allyship to the LGBTQ and Black communities, or her support of science that saves lives, she LOVED people. She chose not to be a billionaire and instead paid so much of what she could have kept for herself forward to millions of others,” Bush wrote, highlighting the work and causes Parton impacted throughout her career.
Bush continued, “She was fabulous. She was radical. She was kind. She was light. Her wish was for everyone who wanted to celebrate her life to donate to Dolly’s Imagination Library. I’ll put the link in my bio. Let’s honor her wish and instill a love of story (and maybe even song) in all of our kids. Rest well, you Appalachian Angel. The world aches in your absence already. And my goodness it’s already less sparkly.”
Parton's impact clearly reached far beyond the worlds of music, film, and television. As the tributes from DaCosta, Weber, Bush, and countless others make clear, Parton’s greatest legacy may not be any single song or performance but the joy, compassion, and generosity she brought into the world.
Add us as a preferred source on Google