‘Tongue-tied’ at her first meeting, J.K. Rowling posts emotional Dolly Parton tribute
J.K. Rowling is saluting Dolly Parton and revisiting a surprise ’90s backstage encounter—the exact moment that made her go full-on starstruck might surprise you.
On the day the world learned of Dolly Parton’s passing, one of the clearest tributes came from an unexpected corner of pop culture: author J.K. Rowling, who zeroed in on the program Parton built for kids rather than the rhinestones or the hits. Posting on X, Rowling recalled being speechless when she met Parton in the ’90s and praised the book-gifting charity Parton started three decades ago.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the 90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off.”
That emphasis tracks with the way Parton used her fame. The Imagination Library, launched in 1995 in honor of her father’s struggle with reading, began in her East Tennessee hometown and expanded across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia and Ireland. Its impact wasn’t a red carpet moment — it arrived in mailboxes, one free book at a time.
A star across screens
Parton’s film and TV footprint was as durable as her songbook. Tributes poured in from performers who shared the screen with her — Lily Tomlin from 9 to 5 and Julia Roberts from the Steel Magnolias era — alongside messages from music peers like Reba McEntire and Kacey Musgraves.
- Jolene — signature hit that became cultural shorthand
- 9 to 5 — chart-topping anthem and workplace comedy classic
- I Will Always Love You — Parton’s ballad later immortalized by Whitney Houston
- 9 to 5 (film) — with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin
- Steel Magnolias — ensemble drama that cemented her big-screen staying power
Rowling’s post also spotlights how Parton fused showmanship with service. Beyond the Library, her philanthropy ranged from funding vaccine research to growing Dollywood into a jobs engine for her community — generosity that never felt like ceremony even when she was dressed like a walking sparkler.
The sweep of remembrance matched the sweep of her career: more than 100 million records sold and 11 Grammys over six decades, alongside roles that made her familiar to generations of movie and TV fans.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on August 25, 2026 , at 80.