Dolly Parton was a master of the stage, perfecting the art of a dazzling performance across her career, which spanned six decades. While her stage persona radiated confidence, the country music star was nervous about one thing when she came face-to-face with a member of the royal family nearly 50 years ago.
The Jolene singer, who almost met the Princess of Wales on one occasion, met the late Queen Elizabeth II backstage at a theatre on 17 May, 1977. Dolly had performed for the Queen in Glasgow at an event during the monarch's Silver Jubilee celebrations, marking 25 years on the throne.
"I was scared to death that I was not going to know how to curtsy, that I wasn't going to bend right, but she was just very warm, very sweet, and I could tell she was a very giving person," Dolly revealed in an interview with Insider in 2023.
© Photo: RexThe singer said that "just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing."
"Even though you have to do the protocol, you have to bow and all that, I could tell that she didn't care about that," Dolly added. "That's just something she had to do. And if somebody made a mistake, it was OK."
The Queen stopped in Glasgow to attend the special Jubilee Gala Performance at the King's Theatre. Dolly told the Glasgow Evening Times she hadn't know she would be performing for the Queen until she was told on her flight to the UK. "It’s just one of the biggest thrills of my life," she told the publication.
Dolly paid tribute to the late Queen
Dolly previously shared a message in 2022 to congratulate the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee, which marked her 70-year reign as monarch.
Appearing in a video with a framed photo from her meeting the Queen in 1977 in the background, the singer told the royal: "I just wanted to say thank you for being wonderful, you are more than pearls and you are more than platinum."
© Photo: BBC"You have been a shining diamond in this world for so long and everybody loves you. And I will always love you too."
Following the Queen's death in September 2022, Dolly paid tribute with a heartfelt message recalling their meeting 45 years earlier: "I had the honour of meeting and performing for Queen Elizabeth II on my trip to London in 1977," Dolly wrote.
"She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life. May she Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time. Love, Dolly."
The royals pay tribute to Dolly
Dolly died at the age of 80 on 25 August, prompting an outpouring of love and heartbreak from fans and stars.
The King's Guard paid a very special tribute to the singer on Wednesday, playing a sweet rendition of Dolly's famous track, 9-5, during the changing of the Guard.
© Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty IQueen Camilla's charity, The Queen's Reading Room, penned a message to remember the country singer, who shared her passion for the importance of reading.
"Today we remember and celebrate the unwavering advocate for the joy and importance of reading – the icon, Dolly Parton," the tribute began.
"Dolly once said: You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children – but she gave it a pretty good go, donating more than 300 million books over 30+ years through her Imagination Library. By putting so many books into the hands of so many children, she gave the most precious of gifts: the chance to millions of young minds of opening the door to imagination, possibility and a lifelong love of reading. Thank you, Dolly."
