Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton During Madison Square Garden Debut

The singer briefly paused his sold-out show to pay tribute to the country superstar

During opening night of his 30-show run at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Harry Styles took a moment to honor country icon Dolly Parton following her passing on Tuesday.

“I just want to give a proper thank you to all the musicians who have inspired me over the years. Dolly, we love you. Thank you so much,” Styles told the sold‑out crowd, raising his clasped hands. As he played her recording of “I Will Always Love You,” the arena filled with the light of thousands of cell phones as attendees swayed and sang along to the classic hit.

The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974. In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded “I Will Always Love You” for the soundtrack of her film, The Bodyguard, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a then‑record 14 weeks. It remains one of Parton’s signature songs and became the closing number of many of her live shows.

Styles’ tribute to Parton joins countless remembrances worldwide after her death following a brief battle with cancer at age 80. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, Jack White, every living president, Jane Fonda, and many others have mourned the beloved star.

Parton’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus also honored her on Wednesday, writing in a tribute: “My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”

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