Just one day after Dolly Parton’s death, the sound of one of her most recognizable songs echoed outside Buckingham Palace as the Band of the Coldstream Guards paid tribute to the country music legend with a rendition of “9 to 5.”

Parton died Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the age of 80. Her representatives later confirmed to PEOPLE that the singer had died following a “brief battle with cancer.”

On Wednesday morning, Aug. 26, the Coldstream Guards performed the 1980 hit during the Changing of the Guard ceremony as tourists gathered outside the royal residence.

The emotional tribute was shared by the royal family on Instagram alongside a message remembering Parton and the enormous impact she had on generations of fans.

Royal family remembers Dolly Parton

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many — including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library,” the royal family wrote.

The post also ended with a simple message of affection: “We will always ❤️ you.”

 

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The tribute highlighted an aspect of Parton’s legacy that extended far beyond music. Through her Imagination Library, the singer helped provide free books to children, an initiative that eventually expanded internationally.

The program was launched in the United Kingdom in 2007 and provides free books to children from birth until the age of 5.

The Coldstream Guards’ performance came as tributes poured in from across the entertainment world following Parton’s death. Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Beyoncé were among the celebrities who publicly remembered the singer.

Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in a video posted to social media Tuesday. Her representatives subsequently confirmed that she had died after a “brief battle with cancer.”

Dolly Parton’s special connection to the British royals

The Band of the Coldstream Guards outside Buckingham Palace on Aug. 26, 2026.

The Royal Family/Instagram

Parton had maintained a warm relationship with members of the British royal family over the years, with her connections to the monarchy stretching back decades.

In 1977, she appeared at the Royal Variety Performance held in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee.

Parton later recalled meeting the late Queen as one of the biggest thrills of her life. She described Elizabeth as “very warm, very sweet” and said simply meeting a queen had been an extraordinary experience.

Her relationship with the younger generation of royals was more informal.

In 2023, Parton revealed that she had turned down an invitation from Kate Middleton to join her for tea. The singer explained that she was in Britain promoting her album Rockstar at the time and was too busy to accept.

“I felt so bad … I couldn’t even go!” Parton said on BBC Radio 2.

She joked that the invitation had come with everything arranged, but that she had to decline because she was focused on promoting her music.

“I thought that was very sweet and nice of her to invite me to tea,” she said. “One of these days, I’m going to be able to get to do that, wouldn’t that have been great?”

Parton then added a typically playful explanation for her decision: “But she wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no. I hope she hears it though.”

Parton once invited Kate and her children to Dollywood

Dolly Parton in Nashville on May 19, 2025.

Jason Kempin/Getty

The following year, Parton spoke about the possibility of welcoming Kate and her three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — to Dollywood, her theme park in Tennessee.

She said the children could enjoy the rides while the family was treated “like royalty.”

Parton also joked that she would serve Kate her mashed potatoes.

The singer later discussed her plans to meet members of the royal family during a 2025 interview with HuffPost.

“I think they’re involved a lot with our Imagination Library there. So I’m going to go over there and kind of really rub elbows with the royalty,” she said.

Her comments reflected the connection between her charitable work and the United Kingdom. The Imagination Library’s expansion into Britain in 2007 made Parton’s literacy initiative part of the lives of children across the country.

A musical tribute fitting for a country icon

Dolly Parton performing in Nashville on Jan. 30, 2024.

Jon Morgan/CBS via Getty

The choice of “9 to 5” for the Coldstream Guards’ tribute was particularly fitting.

Released in 1980, the song became one of Parton’s signature recordings and remains among the best-known songs of her career. Hearing it performed by the military band outside Buckingham Palace offered a distinctly British setting for a song created by one of America’s most beloved entertainers.

The tribute also underscored how far Parton’s influence extended beyond country music.

From her decades-long career and enduring hits to her charitable work and relationships with generations of British royals, Parton built a legacy that reached well beyond the stage.

As news of her death continues to prompt tributes around the world, the Coldstream Guards’ rendition offered a poignant public farewell — with “9 to 5” carrying Parton’s unmistakable spirit outside Buckingham Palace the morning after the world lost one of country music’s most enduring stars.