Taylor Swift is honoring the legacy of country music legend Dolly Parton following the icon's death at the age of 80. Parton died Tuesday.
"A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right," Swift said in a statement. "But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one."
Swift, who referred to Parton as "truly the gift that kept on giving," praised the singer for her ability to offer lessons about the world gently, honestly, and humorously. She noted Parton's capacity to balance mystery and fantasy with full transparency in the aspects that mattered.
"She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist," Swift continued. She credited Parton with providing melodies and lyrics that could thaw "even the coldest hearts," and for distributing millions of books to children globally, fostering a love for stories.
Swift also expressed gratitude for Parton's role in paving the way for young women. "For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too," she stated. Swift concluded her tribute by saying, "Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way."