Dolly Parton’s death at 80 created an unprecedented moment of shared grief on Tuesday, with tributes crossing genres, generations, and political lines. Radio stations became a public hub for that widespread mourning, honoring an artist beloved the world over.
As word of Parton’s passing, confirmed by her family, spread through social media, Nashville’s WSM-AM began airing tribute programming all day, including an archival interview Parton had done with the late Bill Cody. Smaller stations reported similarly quick turnarounds. Wolf Creek Radio Broadcasting in Laramie, WY, aired a Parton tribute within 20 minutes of the news, with a rotation of her songs playing every two to three hours alongside a fuller tribute at the top of each hour.
At Hubbard Radio in the Twin Cities, Regional Manager Dan Seeman noted that myTalk 107.1 (KTMY) “seized the moment immediately” with a tribute billboard displayed across the metro, with a second up Wednesday morning as the station airs conversations from its hosts about Parton, along with Dolly-themed bumper music and sweepers. The station is also raising money for Parton’s Imagination Library children’s literacy program, directing donations to Bridge to Books, the Imagination Library’s local affiliate in Stillwater, MN.
Seeman said in a message to staff, “Dolly was more than a country music star or a movie star; she was a rare cultural icon, one that transcended generations and all demographics.”
Audacy’s Katie Neal dedicated her Superstar Power Hour to Parton immediately after the news broke, and many of the broadcaster’s Country stations followed with all-Dolly hours during afternoon drive. That evening, Holly Hutton hosted a Dolly Parton Top 7 countdown at 7p on the syndicated Rob & Holly Show.
At KSON in San Diego, hosts John & Tammy stayed on the air through 3p, speaking with former Parton employees, artists who had collaborated with her, and fans, and extending the tribute to local TV appearances. In Chattanooga, WUSY’s Mo & StyckMan went live with the news and collected personal stories from listeners. In Chicago, US99’s Scotty Kay dedicated the 5p hour to telling the stories behind Parton’s songs in her own words, and morning hosts Melissa & Austin built the next day’s show around her, turning their regular benchmarks into Dolly-themed segments and asking listeners to consider “What Would Dolly Do” throughout the day.
On iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show, Bobby, co-host Amy, and producer Eddie spent Tuesday’s broadcast reflecting on Parton’s life and career. Amy described her as someone two people who agree on almost nothing could both claim as one of their own, a quality the hosts said made her “the most Jesus-like person we’ve ever met.”
There was also a considerable outpouring from industry voices on social media, with more on-air tributes expected coast to coast in the days to come.
This Sunday morning, Audacy Country stations will air a two-hour special, Forever Dolly: A 90’s Country with Heather Tribute Show, hosted by Heather Froglear, spotlighting Parton’s biggest hits and stories of inspiration.
