Emily Eavis has remembered Dolly Parton as an “absolute delight” following her memorable Glastonbury performance in 2014.
The festival organiser was thrilled to secure the country music legend for the popular Sunday afternoon legends slot on the Pyramid Stage more than a decade ago. Following Dolly’s death on Tuesday (25.08.26) at the age of 80, Emily looked back on the unforgettable weekend.
She wrote on Instagram: “Oh Dolly, what an untouchable legend.
“I will never forget her coming here in 2014 and bringing her incredible songs, overflowing joy and wonderful spirit to Worthy Farm.
“We had always dreamt of booking her for Glastonbury and I started to think that maybe it would never happen, but the stars aligned and she finally said yes..
“From the moment she arrived, she was an absolute delight, just so lovely. There was a vast crowd in the field for her slot, the sun shone, and when she walked out on to the Pyramid stage she reigned supreme. It was just magic.
“Thank you for it all, Dolly.”
Dolly’s performance featured a mixture of famous hits, lesser known songs and covers, ranging from ‘Jolene’ and ‘9 to 5’ to her interpretation of Bon Jovi’s ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’.
She ended the concert with ‘I Will Always Love You’ and also introduced the new ‘Mud Song’, which she wrote about the festival.
Following news of her passing, fans began sharing their memories of the celebrated performance.
Posting photographs from the festival on X, one attendee wrote: “Glastonbury 2014 - what a day!”
A second social media user recalled: “Seeing Dolly at Glastonbury in 2014 was an unexpected highlight. Her storytelling and ability to entertain was a real gift.”
Other fans described the show as “one of the best Glastonbury Legend Slots” and “one of the best afternoons of my life”.
Speaking in a Q and A published on the Glastonbury website at the time, Emily said: “Oh, Dolly was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here. She is just a truly amazing live performer.
“Her voice was incredible. And she wrote that song about mud in the morning before the show! I don’t think you can beat that performance as a perfect moment here at Glastonbury.”
News of Dolly’s death was delivered through a video recorded by her nephew Bryan Seaver and posted for fans on social media.
He said: “My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.
“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
A representative for Dolly later stated that she had passed away after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”.
They added: “Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”
