Household Division officers at Buckingham Palace paid tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton on Wednesday morning, performing a rendition of her 1980 hit "9 to 5." The ceremony occurred hours after the announcement of Parton's death at the age of 80, following a battle with cancer.
The Band of the Coldstream Guards played the instrumental version of the song during the Changing the Guard ceremony. The track, co-written by Parton, was originally featured in the film of the same name in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Tourists gathered to witness the tribute, which echoed across the palace forecourt. Footage of the performance was shared on the Royal Family's official social media with a message honoring Parton's legacy of bringing "joy, comfort and inspiration." Queen Camilla's charity, The Queen's Reading Room, also praised Parton as an "icon" for her work with the Imagination Library.
Parton's representatives confirmed her death, stating she "departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones" after a "brief battle with cancer." They highlighted her "unmatched generosity," including donating more than 300 million books through her Imagination Library and funding vaccine research.
Tributes poured in from around the world. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be lowered nationwide for one week in her honor. The Empire State Building was illuminated in "pink sparkle" to commemorate her status as a "global cultural icon." Sir Paul McCartney remembered Parton, with whom he collaborated on a 2023 cover of "Let It Be," calling her a "wonderful woman" and praising her songwriting, singing, and philanthropy. Prime Minister Andy Burnham also lauded her "great music" and significant contributions to literacy initiatives.
Parton's death was first confirmed by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security. She had been hospitalized on Friday at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems. In an interview published shortly before her death, Parton mentioned she had been experiencing health issues, stating she had "hard times with my health" and was dealing with "some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to."