Celebrity

Showbiz world pays tribute as Dolly Parton celebrates 73rd birthday

Jan 20, 2019

The 'Jolene' singer turned 73 on Saturday. Source: Getty.

The showbiz world came together this weekend to wish legendary country music star Dolly Parton happy birthday, as the iconic performer celebrated reaching the age of 73.

Born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Dolly made her mark on the country music scene in 1967 when she released her debut album ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’.

Her impressive career has seen her bag 25 number one singles on the Billboard Country Music Charts, nine Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, among other achievements.

Hordes of celebrities paid tribute to Dolly on Saturday, with US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres leading the pack as she shared a video of the iconic singer performing one of her most famous hits, ‘Jolene’, on her show recently, while wishing her a happy birthday.

Close friend Kenny Rogers, who has duetted with Parton on numerous occasions wrote: “Happy Birthday to the one and only @DollyParton! Thankful for so many years of friendship and music.”

Happy Birthday to the one and only @DollyParton! Thankful for so many years of friendship and music. pic.twitter.com/X2xZwOwEgC

— Kenny Rogers (@_KennyRogers) January 19, 2019

Tony Award winner Kristen Chenoweth said: “Happy Birthday, @DollyParton! There’s simply nobody else like you. Thank you for inspiring us all. I love you!”

While Dolly’s goddaughter, and fellow singing star, Miley Cyrus also paid tribute on Twitter. Sharing a photo of the two of them together from Miley’s former television series Hannah Montana, she wrote: “Happy birthday to my fairy godmother.”

Happy Birthday to my fairy godmother @dollyparton 💖 pic.twitter.com/4opxGWRO9T

— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) January 20, 2019

Some of the singer’s most inspirational quotes were also doing the rounds on social media, including these resounding words: “m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.”

Another fan shared this motivational quote: “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday messages! Y'all made my day 💗💗

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) January 19, 2019

The ‘9 to 5’ singer then responded to all of the birthday love, saying: “Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday messages! Y’all made my day.”

Dolly Parton’s music has reached a whole new audience in recent months thanks to the release of Netflix move Dumplin’, starring Jennifer Aniston and young Australian actress Danielle Macdonald.

The film is set to the soundtrack of Dolly’s music and follows a former beauty queen whose plus-size daughter signs up for her pageant, by means of a protest, but ends up revolutionising the small-town event.