Country music star Keith Urban has shared his devastation following the death of legend Dolly Parton, who died aged 80 in Nashville on Tuesday.
The Australian-raised country star, 58, took to Instagram shortly after news broke of the music icon's passing, sharing a stark black screen with a brief message revealing he was struggling to process the loss.
"Heartbroken today. Dolly Parton," Urban wrote, adding a heart emoji. "Honestly…… I have no words right now," he continued in the emotional social media post.
Urban's ex-wife, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, 59, later paid tribute to Parton by sharing a touching throwback photograph on social media from the 2023 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, where the country icon famously inducted Urban into the prestigious organisation.
Nicole Kidman Shares Hall of Fame Tribute
"We will always love you, Dolly," Kidman captioned the photograph, making a poignant reference to Parton's classic track I Will Always Love You.
The image captured Kidman and Urban posing alongside Parton during happier times, with the former Hollywood power couple standing close together at the star-studded Nashville event. Kidman looked elegant in a sweeping black ensemble, while Urban sported an edgy black pinstripe suit paired with chunky boots.
Parton, characteristically glamorous, stole the show in a shimmering metallic silver corset-style top and matching fitted trousers, completing her look with towering heels, statement jewellery, and her signature platinum blonde hair.
Kidman's decision to share a photograph featuring Urban was particularly notable given that the former couple finalised their divorce in January following 19 years of marriage. The pair separated in 2025 before Kidman filed for divorce that September, citing irreconcilable differences.
A Tennessee judge formally dissolved their marriage in January after they reached agreements regarding their finances and parenting arrangements for their daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret. Kidman was also linked to private equity businessman Michael Reinstein last month in July during an Italian getaway.
Divorce Settlement and Recent Stage Performance
Parton had played an important role in one of the proudest moments of Urban's career. When Urban was selected for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023, there was only one person he wanted to present the honour.
Urban personally wrote Parton a letter asking her to induct him, later revealing: "There was only one person on my list and it was Dolly." Having grown up listening to Parton's music in Australia, Urban singled out her 1977 track Applejack as one of the songs that had remained with him since childhood.
During his induction ceremony, Urban placed an "In Dolly We Trust" sticker on the podium before giving his acceptance speech. The sticker had been picked up by Kidman and their daughter Faith earlier that day. Urban described Parton as "peerless" and spoke about the influence her relentless creativity had on his own career.
Urban's grief comes during an already emotional period in his personal life. Just days ago, on Friday, the singer fought back tears on stage while performing his breakup ballad We Go Back at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.
Footage obtained by Daily Mail showed Urban becoming visibly emotional as he introduced the song, which tells the story of a young couple whose romance falls apart after the man makes a mistake. "This song is about a guy and a girl growing up in a small town," Urban told the cheering audience, adding that they "grew up" together.
"They were the first of their friends to fall in love. They had a good thing going, until the guy screwed it up," Urban said on stage, adding: "I will do that." The music artist paused briefly before continuing that "years and years go by" when they finally cross paths again.
Announcement of Dolly Parton's Death in Nashville
Parton's death was announced on Tuesday by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as the superstar's head of security for more than two decades. Her publicist later confirmed the beloved Jolene singer died peacefully in Nashville, though a cause of death has not been disclosed.
Seaver revealed that Parton had asked him years earlier to be the person who announced her death when the time eventually came. In an emotional video posted to her official Instagram page, Seaver said the singer wanted to finally "rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton" after spending her extraordinary life weighed down by her famous rhinestone costumes.
Parton's family is expected to farewell the music superstar in a private service. Fans have been encouraged to honour her memory by supporting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the children's literacy charity she founded.
Final Interview and Legacy of the Queen of Country
The devastating news came just four days after Parton spoke about her future in what would become her final interview. Despite dealing with a series of health problems, the famously hard-working entertainer remained determined to continue creating, stating: "I still have so many things I want to achieve," and adding that she intended to continue working for as long as she could.
Parton had endured mounting health concerns over the previous year. In May, she cancelled her long-delayed Las Vegas residency, telling fans she was still recovering from problems involving her immune and digestive systems.
At the time, the characteristically upbeat singer reassured fans that she was responding well to treatment, even joking that medication had left her too "swimmy-headed" to safely perform in her towering heels while carrying guitars and banjos.
Her husband of almost six decades, Carl Dean, passed away aged 82 in March 2025. Parton went on to become one of the most celebrated performers in music history, selling more than 100 million records and creating enduring hits including Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You.
She won 11 Grammy Awards, was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and built a formidable career as an actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist.
Her death has prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief from across the entertainment industry. Stars including Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Paul McCartney, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Keith Urban have paid tribute to the woman widely regarded as the Queen of Country.
