Jane Fonda, who shared the screen with Dolly Parton in the beloved workplace comedy 9 to 5, said she was “devastated” by the news in an emotional tribute posted to Instagram.
“I know that millions are mourning,” Fonda wrote, adding that Parton’s presence would endure “more than anyone I have ever known” because she was “so present, so powerful, so generous and playful” that she became part of people’s lives and hearts forever.
The actress pointed to the many pieces of Parton’s legacy that continue to resonate: her music, Dollywood, 9 to 5, the millions of books she helped place in children’s hands, and the unforgettable images that made her instantly recognizable. “They are all blessings,” Fonda wrote. “Let’s be grateful for all that she has left us to ease our sadness now.”
Fonda continued by reflecting on Parton’s singular personality, saying she had “never knew anyone” quite like her longtime friend and co-star.
She described Parton as both “a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of Tennessee” and “a deep, soulful thinker” with an uncanny ability to see people clearly, right down to who they truly were.
Fonda praised the country music icon as a woman of extraordinary range: a lyricist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, prankster, visionary and loyal friend — someone who, she said, would not end a night before she and her friends had laughed until they could barely stand it.
She also remembered Parton’s sharp instincts and generous heart, writing that she “seemed to always know just what to do, just what to say, to make things right” — before cheekily recalling the star once mooning Kenny Rogers’ home from a car window. Fonda called her “the voluptuous embodiment of empathy,” adding that empathy was the gift Parton would want others to carry forward.
Fonda ended her tribute with a call to fans to honor Parton in true Dolly fashion: “dress up and celebrate her spirit.”
