JK Rowling applauds Dolly Parton’s book scheme as she shares tribute following singer’s death: ‘Best contribution’

The Harry Potter author also revealed a personal encounter with the star, adding: “Our paths crossed once, in the 90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck.”

Ms Rowling concluded her message: “RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the 90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 25, 2026

The tribute underscored the breadth of Ms Parton’s influence, reaching well beyond the music world and into the lives of millions of young readers across the globe.

The legendary singer died on Tuesday at the age of 80, with her nephew Brian Seaver breaking the news through a video posted to her Instagram page.

Mr Seaver, who had served as the singer’s head of security for more than two decades, disclosed that his aunt had asked him years earlier to be the one to make the announcement.

“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he said.

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The Tennessee-born entertainer had been dealing with undisclosed health issues in recent months, having withdrawn from upcoming concerts and a Dollywood appearance earlier this year due to a kidney stone.

No cause of death has been made public.

Ms Parton’s commitment to children’s reading was rooted in deeply personal motivations.

She established the Imagination Library through her Dollywood Foundation in honour of her father, who never learned to read or write.

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The programme, launched in 1995, sends a free book every month to registered children from birth until they turn five.

What began as a local initiative in her home county in Tennessee grew into a worldwide operation, dispatching more than 300 million books to young readers across the globe.

Britain has been a significant beneficiary of the scheme, with six million books distributed to British children alone.

Ms Parton’s philanthropic efforts sat alongside a recording career that produced in excess of 100 million record sales and 11 Grammy Awards.

Miley Cyrus, Parton’s goddaughter, was among the first to respond, writing on X: “I can’t believe we just lost the purest soul. Rest in Glory, Dolly. My heart aches.”

President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast for seven days, describing Ms Parton’s passing as “a true loss for millions of people” and declaring: “There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”

Country star Reba McEntire thanked her “buddy Dolly” for everything she had given, saying: “There will never ever be another you.”

Kacey Musgraves captured the mood felt by many, posting: “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”