Dolly Parton would want our tribute show to go on, says Fringe performer

A Dolly Parton tribute act had its opening night at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe just two hours after news of the 80-year-old singer’s death was confirmed by her family.

The Dolly Parton Story returned to Edinburgh on Tuesday night to kick off a five-day Fringe run at Surgeons’ Hall just hours after the cast heard she had died.

Lead performer Hannah Richards, 28, from south-east England, said tears were shed at the performance, but added that Parton would want the music and party to go on.

“It was very, very fresh, and it made for a very emotional show,” said Ms Richards, 28.

“It was our first performance of the Fringe, so it felt very poignant and very emotional. There were a lot of tears, but it was very special to get to mark (her death) and celebrate Dolly in that way.”

The cast held a minute’s silence for Parton before the show began, but Ms Richards said it “was really important” to them that the show went on as intended.

“That’s what Dolly would want. She wouldn’t want sadness, she’d want the party, and she’d want the music,” Ms Richards said.

“So, we had that moment of sadness, and then we said, ‘Okay, let’s have fun with it’. And the audience got behind us every step of the way.”

She continued: “There were tears, obviously, but there was a lot of singing and dancing as well, which I think is what Dolly probably would have wanted.”

Parton’s family confirmed her death on Tuesday night, and her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, said: “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre surrounded by loved ones.”

Ms Richards said the tribute act felt a desire to honour Parton, 80, as best they could after hearing the news.

“We felt like we had such a responsibility on stage and there was a bit of extra pressure on us, I guess, but we just wanted to do it right,” she said.

“We wanted to honour her as best we could, and I hope that we did that. I mean, her legacy is unmatched. There’s no one like Dolly, and we’re very lucky to get to play her music.”

The Dolly Parton Story features a live band and renditions of some of Parton’s greatest hits, including Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands In The Stream, Here You Come Again, Coat of Many Colours, Joshua and more.

Ms Richards said she has been performing in the show for nine years, and is a big fan of Parton’s work.

“The more I found out about her, the more I just fell in love with her. You can’t not fall in love with Dolly,” she said.

Ms Richards said the tribute act has sold out for the rest of the week.

“It’s lovely that people want to come and celebrate Dolly with us, and hopefully we can create an environment where they can do that and they can feel whatever they want to feel,” she said.

“If they want to cry, if they want to sing or dance or whatever, we’re gonna go on that emotional journey with them, and hopefully we can give them a space to do that.”