Updated

Updated · Deadline · Aug 29

Liza Minnelli Posts Tribute to Dolly Parton, 80, as Grief Over Singer's Death Widens

Updated

Updated · Deadline · Aug 29

Liza Minnelli Posts Tribute to Dolly Parton, 80, as Grief Over Singer's Death Widens

Q: What secret memories and private gossip did Liza Minnelli and Dolly Parton share away from the flashing cameras?

They have not been publicly revealed. Minnelli deliberately kept those memories private, saying only that they involved “spicy girl gossip” shared over great meals and after visiting each other’s concerts. What is clear from her tribute is the nature of the bond behind those unseen moments. Minnelli described Parton as a “truly supportive friend” who cheered her on through difficult periods and seemed to sense when she was struggling. She said Parton “knew it” when she was in trouble, suggesting their private conversations went beyond show-business small talk and reflected real emotional support. Minnelli also placed those memories in the context of a longstanding friendship shaped by mutual friends and work. She said former agent Sam Haskell helped bring Parton into her circle, including Michael Feinstein, and recalled Parton’s duet with Feinstein on “Love Is Here To Stay” for the Gershwin Country album that Minnelli executive produced. Those collaborations appear to have deepened a friendship that continued offstage, in dinners, backstage visits and personal exchanges. So while the exact stories remain secret, the public record points to a warm, candid friendship built on trust, humor and loyalty. Minnelli’s tribute makes clear that the most intimate details will stay between them and their close circle, preserved as “special & beautiful memories” rather than shared for public consumption.

Q: With flags lowered nationwide, how will the public finally be allowed to mourn the legendary Dolly Parton?

The public will not be attending a funeral for Dolly Parton. In line with her wishes, her family is holding only a small private service for immediate relatives, with no public memorial announced. Instead, fans are being invited to mourn her in other ways while flags remain at half-staff nationwide through Sept. 1. Parton’s official channels have asked the public to share tributes on social media by tagging @DollyParton or to leave messages through her website. Family members have also requested donations, in lieu of flowers, to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the children’s book program that became one of her defining philanthropic legacies. Public remembrance is also taking shape through organized tributes. The Grand Ole Opry is dedicating its Saturday night show to Parton, with a livestream available on its Facebook and YouTube channels and a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting the Imagination Library. Across Nashville and Tennessee, fans have already been gathering at informal memorial sites, leaving flowers, notes and other tributes. Parton will be buried in Nashville at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum beside her late husband, Carl Dean. Reports say she wanted Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” and the hymn “If We Never Meet Again” included at her service. But for the public, mourning will largely happen from a distance — through shared memories, music, charitable giving and the public tributes now unfolding in her honor.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Aug 29

Liza Minnelli called news of Dolly Parton’s death “devastating” in an emotional Instagram post, saying “hearts [are] cracking all over the world” and mourning a friend who “always” supported her.
Minnelli tied the tribute to their shared history through agent Sam Haskell and friend Michael Feinstein, recalling Parton’s duet on Feinstein’s Gershwin Country album, which Minnelli executive produced.
The Cabaret Oscar winner said she was too overcome to say more, writing that her “throat” and “heart” were full while withholding the “spicy girl gossip” they shared after concerts and meals.
Parton died on Aug. 25 at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, drawing a broad outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow entertainers.