Country singer Orville Peck paid an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton during an in-store appearance at Rough Trade in East London on 25 August 2026, hours after news broke of her death. Peck, who was there to promote his forthcoming album Mule, told fans he was "a little bit of a mess" and spoke of Parton's legacy of kindness before dedicating a performance of "I Will Always Love You" to her. The moment underscores Parton's far-reaching influence on the country music world, particularly among LGBTQ+ artists who found her a rare source of acceptance within the genre.

Parton died on Tuesday at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Peck, who is openly gay, described her as his "hero", saying that knowing she existed within country music made him feel less alone as he entered the industry; he had also performed one of her songs during his Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville last month. He was not alone in marking her passing in London that day: Jack White, also performing in the city, covered "Jolene" in tribute, while other artists including Shania Twain, Sabrina Carpenter and Brandi Carlile publicly honoured the Country Music Hall of Fame member.