Bobby Bones Remembers Late Legend Dolly Parton: 'Everyone Loves Dolly'

Bobby Bones remembered Dolly Parton as someone who was “as normal and as warm of a person as anyone I’ve ever met,” after her passing on Tuesday (August 25). She was 80.

“I don’t even know how to do this video,” Bobby admitted as he paid tribute to Parton on Instagram. “Dolly was amazing. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a decent amount of time with Dolly over the past decade. I don’t think you had to spend time with Dolly to love Dolly, is the crazy thing. She was such an ambassador for country music. But she was so famous, but still, she did not act like that at all. I loved being around her. We did a decent amount of charity stuff together, some promo stuff together, she did the show, she was a part of my comedy special. But I’m telling you, she was as normal and as warm of a person as anyone I’ve ever met in this business. For sure, the ambassador of country music. This format is definitely sad today. Music is sad today. It sucks. I don’t even know what to say. It just sucks. Rest in peace to Dolly. And we’ll do a special on the show tomorrow about her. I have a lot of stuff I want to say, but I don’t even know what to say right now. But I felt like I needed to post something. We loved you, Dolly.”

Bobby followed that clip with photos of Parton, whom he remembered as a “legend.” He wrote in his caption that the East Tennessee-born artist was “always so giving. To so many. A couple examples that I was involved in. My favorite pic of Dolly and myself. During the telethon for the fires in East TN that Dolly organized. The second pic is from when she gave to me and agreed to narrate my comedy special. I still couldn’t believe she agreed to do it. RIP.”

In a resurfaced clip from The Bobby Bones Show, Parton sang one of her most iconic anthems, “9 to 5.” She said of the song, “that’s a fun one. I love it because everybody likes to sing along with me. That’s a fun one to sing.” Parton said some of her favorite songs to sing include “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” “because every singer loves to sing a ballad. …’Jolene,’ I love to sing, too.”

Tune into The Bobby Bones Show in the free iHeartRadio app and on your local iHeartRadio stations for more stories about Parton as the country music community continues to honor the beloved legend.

An official statement confirmed on Tuesday that “global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee.” Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew, also confirmed his aunt’s passing in a statement from the family shared on Parton’s social media accounts. Representatives for Parton confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday evening that the beloved country artist died “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”

The official announcement issued Tuesday afternoon states that “Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). …At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”