Dolly Parton's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is being replaced after being vandalized, with repair crews working on the landmark Wednesday. The defacement occurred just days after the death of the acclaimed music icon at age 80.
Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, confirmed to the Daily Mail that a fan reported numerous scratches on the star. Martinez also stated that the landmark had already been scheduled for repairs the previous week due to existing cracks. A crew has removed flowers and is currently undertaking the necessary work.
The refurbishment is being managed by the Hollywood Historic Trust, which maintains and repairs the stars on the Walk of Fame. Parton's star is expected to be polished and ready for public viewing by Friday.
Video footage of the repair process was first shared by Los Angeles-based radio station KNX, showing crews working to restore the star after Parton's name was reportedly scratched off.
Fans expressed dismay on social media regarding the vandalism. Some comments lamented the act, with one user writing, "This hurts my heart so much," while another observed, "Further proof no matter who you are or what you do- someone will hate you." Others noted that the star was already due for repair, with one comment mentioning, "The star was broken from normal wear and tear. It had cracks on it and needed to be replaced."
Parton received her Hollywood Walk of Fame honor in 1984. In the days following her death, the star had become a gathering place for fans in Southern California to pay their respects.
Parton passed away last week, with reports emerging that she had been secretly battling cancer, though the specific type was not disclosed. Her nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video, relaying Parton's wish to "rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest." He described his aunt as having "lived in the light" and now being "in the arms of Jesus" alongside her late husband, Carl Dean, her parents, and others.
Dean died in March 2025 at age 82 from causes that have remained private. He and Parton would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary two months later.
Parton, often called the Queen of Country, had a career spanning six decades, with hits including "Jolene" and "9 to 5." Born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, she was the fourth of 12 children.
Her passing followed months of health concerns that led her to cancel public appearances, causing concern among fans. In an interview published just four days before her death, Parton expressed a desire to "achieve" more and vowed to continue "working as long as I can to see everything come to life," according to People. She mentioned grappling with "some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl."
Parton shared in a 1973 interview that her song "Jolene" was partly inspired by a bank teller who showed an intense interest in her husband. "She got this terrible crush on my husband," Parton recounted. "And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us—when I was saying: 'Hell, you're spending a lot of time at the bank. I don't believe we've got that kind of money.'"
Later, onstage at Glastonbury, she elaborated on the song's inspiration, stating, "I wrote that years ago when my husband… was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be. I put a stop to that. I got rid of that redhead woman in a hurry."
Parton and Dean met at a Nashville laundromat in 1964 when she was 18 and he was 21, marrying in May 1966. "I'd never been in a laundromat before," she recalled in the 2023 documentary Dolly Parton: In Her Own Words. "I walked outside there was this good-looking man that drove by the Wishy Washy Laundromat. And he pulled over to the side. So, we started talking and we married two years later."
Despite her superstardom, Dean remained a supportive, private figure. In 2024, Parton revealed why her husband typically avoided public events, noting he was "not the least bit interested in being in" her songs despite his appreciation for her work. An early exception was an awards show in 1967 where she won song of the year; after the outing, her "homebody" husband informed her he would not attend such events again.
The couple, who renewed their vows in 2016, reportedly used humor to navigate their relationship. Parton described her husband as "hilarious" and stated, "He's quiet and I'm loud, and we're funny…we have a lot of fun. Anytime [there is] too much tension going on, either one of us can like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don't let it go so far. We never fought back and forth."
Upon his death, Parton shared a tribute to their "many wonderful years together," stating, "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."