The Empire State Building was illuminated in a vibrant 'pink sparkle' Tuesday night to honor the memory of country music icon Dolly Parton. The tribute began at 9:25 p.m., a time specifically chosen to reference Parton's iconic 1980 film and hit song, "9 to 5."
The building's official Instagram account announced the tribute, stating, "Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans." The message also highlighted her significant philanthropic contributions through the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide.
Parton, 80, died Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer. Tributes have flooded in from across the entertainment world, including from her "9 to 5" co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.
Tomlin shared a heartfelt message on Instagram alongside a photograph of herself and Parton, writing, "No words…💔." Fonda penned an extensive tribute, expressing her devastation and describing Parton as "simultaneously a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of Tennessee and a deep, soulful thinker who could see through people right down to their true selves."
Parton's publicist confirmed to Page Six that a small, private service for immediate family will be held at her request. TMZ reported that she will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared in a video announcing her death that Parton will be reunited with her husband in heaven.