Country music icon Dolly Parton's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was vandalized with scratches and underwent repairs days after her death at 80.
Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that a fan reported seeing multiple scratches carved into the landmark on Hollywood Boulevard.
Martinez explained that the star had already been scheduled for repair work last week to fix existing cracks, leading a maintenance crew to clear away floral tributes left by grieving admirers.
The refurbishment is currently being conducted by the Hollywood Historic Trust, the organization responsible for maintaining and repairing the Walk of Fame stars.
Martinez added that the star will be polished up and ready for visiting fans to view on Friday.
Video of the repair process was first published by Los Angeles radio news station KNX, showing maintenance crews working to replace the landmark after the country singer's name was reportedly scratched off.
Restoration of the Walk of Fame Landmark
News of the damage caused widespread dismay among Parton's fanbase, with many flocking to social media comment sections to express their frustration and grief.
One commenter wrote: "This hurts my heart so much."
Another user remarked: "Further proof no matter who you are or what you do- someone will hate you," while a third asked: "WTF who would do that."
Other commentators took a more level-headed approach, with one writing: "The star was broken from normal wear and tear. It had cracks on it and needed to be replaced."
Parton received her Walk of Fame honor over four decades ago in 1984.
In the days following her passing, the Hollywood landmark served as a primary gathering location for Southern California fans seeking to pay their respects.
The country star passed away last week at the age of 80 following a secret battle with cancer, although the specific strain was left undisclosed.
Her nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her passing in an Instagram video, sharing her 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."
Seaver hailed his aunt for having "lived in the light" and said she was now "in the arms of Jesus" alongside her late husband Carl Dean, her parents, and "countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens."
Tributes and Health Battles Before Passing
Carl Dean passed away at age 82 in March 2025 from causes that remained private, dying two months before what would have been the couple's 59th wedding anniversary.
Parton, frequently referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed a distinguished musical career that spanned six decades and was best known for signature hits including Jolene and 9 to 5.
Born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, Parton was the fourth of 12 children, six of whom are still living today.
Her death followed months of health troubles that forced her to pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.
In an interview published by People magazine just four days before her death, Parton declared she still had "so many things I want to achieve" and vowed to continue "working as long as I can to see everything come to life."
She explained during the interview that she had been grappling with "some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl."
Story Behind the Hit Song Jolene
Parton previously told NPR that her 1973 classic Jolene was partly inspired by a local bank teller who developed a flirtatious relationship with her husband.
"She got this terrible crush on my husband," Parton recalled at the time. "And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention."
She noted that it became a running joke between the couple, recalling: "Hell, you're spending a lot of time at the bank. I don't believe we've got that kind of money."
Years later, while performing onstage at the Glastonbury festival, Parton spoke about the song: "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."
Decades of Marriage to Carl Dean
Parton and Dean first met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville in 1964, when she was 18 and he was 21, and exchanged vows two years later in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966.
In the 2023 documentary Dolly Parton: In Her Own Words, the singer recalled: "I'd never been in a laundromat before. 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."
Throughout her decades of high-octane superstardom, Dean remained a constant and supportive figure for Parton behind the scenes.
During an appearance on Bunnie XO's Dumb Blonde podcast in 2024, Parton revealed her husband was "not the least bit interested in being in" her songs despite loving her work.
She recalled persuading her "homebody" husband to attend an awards show in 1967 where she won song of the year, after which Dean promptly informed her: "I wish you the best, but don't ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain't going."
The couple renewed their wedding vows in 2016 at their Nashville home and used humor to dissipate potential conflict throughout their relationship.
Parton raved that her husband was "hilarious," elaborating: "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."
When Dean died last year in March 2025, Parton penned a heartfelt encomium to their "many wonderful years together," adding: "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."
