Tasmanian landmarks have lit up pink tonight in tribute to Dolly Parton, who died earlier today at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the Tasman Bridge in Hobart “is lit up pink tonight to recognise the passing of Dolly Parton”.
“An icon who was so much more than a songwriter to millions of people,” he said.
Hobart’s Wrest Point Casino also lit up pink in memory of the global icon.
Parton’s death has brought back memories for many of the day more than 20,000 Tasmanians packed into Glenorchy’s KGV Oval to see the country music legend perform alongside Kenny Rogers in 1987.
Glenorchy City councillor Stuart Slade was a police officer assigned to work the concert and remembers the sheer scale of the event.
“You couldn’t see a bit of grass at KGV, it was so packed,” he told Pulse.
Slade said he was struck by the breadth of Parton’s appeal.
“It amazed me that people from all ages appreciated her music,” he said.
“The people there were sort of anybody from 10 to 80, so that shows you the followings she had.”
The sound from the concert carried well beyond the oval into surrounding suburbs.
“The sound just echoed all throughout that part of Glenorchy,” Slade said.
Despite the massive crowd, there was very little trouble on the day.
“People just wanted to hear her music,” he said.
He described Parton as “a real professional” who played well to the audience.
ABC Radio Hobart held a sing-along of Parton’s 9 to 5 in the foyer of its studios this afternoon.
It was led by Tasmanian musical theatre actor Shannae Shead, who recently played Parton in the 2026 production of 9 to 5 the Musical at Hobart’s Playhouse Theatre.
