Khloé Kardashian Says There Will Never Be Another Dolly Parton

Khloé Kardashian is still holding on to the memories of her friendship with Dolly Parton.

The reality star and Good American co-founder, 42, has opened up more than once about what the country legend meant to her since Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at age 80.

"There will never be another Dolly," Kardashian wrote in an emotional Instagram tribute on the day Parton died.

From a Dollywood-themed birthday party to a heartfelt podcast conversation in Tennessee, the pair shared a bond that Kardashian still speaks about with deep love.

"I swear I believed Mrs. Dolly was immortal"

Parton died in Nashville. Her representatives said she died peacefully, and her publicist later said she passed "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer."

Shortly after the news broke, Kardashian shared a series of Instagram Stories, including a photo of herself standing next to Parton in a black cowboy hat, according to HOLA.

"I am heartbroken," she wrote over the photo, adding, "My sweet Dolly."

In a longer message, Kardashian admitted the loss felt almost impossible to believe. "I swear I believed Mrs. Dolly was immortal," she wrote.

"Some people are so extraordinary, their existence feels almost impossible. Dolly was one of those people," she continued, calling Parton "a once-in-a-lifetime soul" whose "light, heart, talent and humanity changed this world forever."

"What a legacy. What a loss."

Kardashian also reflected on what it meant to know Parton personally.

"To have met her, spent time in her presence, and somehow been lucky enough that Dolly Parton knew my name... I will never have words big enough for what that means to me," she wrote.

"What an astronomical human being. What a legacy. What a loss," she added. "There will never be another Dolly."

In a final message, which appeared to refer to Parton's late husband, Carl Dean, Kardashian found comfort in the idea of the couple reunited, HOLA reported. "You are with your hubby who I know you missed immensely," she wrote. "I also know that you are with your creator! God has you wrapped in His arms."

She ended her tribute with gratitude: "God bless you forever and always. Thank you for EVERYTHING."

The birthday video Dolly sent

On the day Parton died, Kardashian also shared a sweet video the singer had recorded for her 40th birthday.

"Hey Khloé! Somebody's having a party and I'm not gonna be there, and I'm sorry about that," Parton said in the clip.

The country icon went on to joke that she would have baked a cake for the occasion, but Kardashian had already bought all of her cake mixes.

Kardashian wrote "Ugh I could cry hysterically" over the video on her Instagram Stories, People reported.

Welcome to "KhloéWood"

The cake mix joke was a nod to one of Kardashian's most memorable parties.

For her 40th birthday, Kardashian threw a Dolly Parton-themed bash called KhloéWood, named after Parton's Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. The party was held on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The cake was brought out on top of a massive pile of Dolly cake mixes, People reported, and Kardashian dressed for the occasion in an all-denim look with a matching cowboy hat.

"Oh My Dolly it's time to party!" she captioned a video of herself getting ready for the big night.

Khloé Kardashian getting ready for her Dolly Parton-themed 40th birthday party, shared on Instagram.

A short clip from Khloé in Wonder Land, posted in July 2025, titled Dollywood Inspo for Khloéwood!

A conversation in Tennessee

In July 2025, Kardashian sat down with Parton for an episode of her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land.

During the episode, Parton opened up about her marriage of nearly six decades to Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82.

Kardashian later told People that she traveled to meet Parton in person for the interview. "I flew to Tennessee. I got to be with her," she said.

She also believes the conversation was among the final podcast appearances of Parton's life. "I think I was one of her last podcasts that she did," she said.

Watch Khloé and Dolly's full conversation

Khloé Kardashian's full conversation with Dolly Parton on Khloé in Wonder Land.

"She's in on the joke"

In the same People interview, published in late September, Kardashian talked about Parton's warmth and sense of humor.

She described Parton as "angelic and majestic and positive," and said she admired how openly the singer embraced her larger-than-life image.

"I love the way that she was sort of like a caricature of herself," Kardashian said. "She's in on the joke, and I always think me and my family are also in on the joke."

Kardashian, who has spent most of her adult life in the public eye, said she relates to that attitude. She said she respects that Parton "just did what she loved to do, and it was harmless, and it was for her." "And everyone respected it," she added, calling it how people "should all treat" each other.

More than one connection

The friendship also crossed into Kardashian's business world. In spring 2026, Parton fronted a campaign for Good American, the denim brand Kardashian co-founded with Emma Grede, posing in a denim crop top for the Dolly's Joleans collection.

It was a fun pairing that reflected how comfortable the two seemed together, mixing Parton's country style with Kardashian's fashion line.

Honoring Dolly's memory

Two days after Parton's death, on Aug. 27, Kardashian also posted a tribute video titled "In Loving Memory of Dolly Parton" on her YouTube channel.

Khloé Kardashian's tribute video to Dolly Parton on YouTube.

A legacy that lives on

Parton's influence stretched far beyond music.

She moved to Nashville in 1964, the day after graduating high school, and wrote and recorded hundreds of songs over a career that lasted more than six decades. She also starred in films such as 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, and she put her name on Dollywood, the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park that opened under her name in 1986.

Her Imagination Library has sent more than 300 million free books to young children. After her death, her family asked that donations be made to the Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.

Dolly's final chapter

Four days before her death, Parton told People she was "dealing with some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl." "Even though I'm still healin', I'm still workin'!" she added.

Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in a video posted to her official accounts, speaking for the Parton and Owens families. A small private service for immediate family was held on Aug. 28, and she was laid to rest in Nashville.

Read more: Dolly Parton's Estate Drops Lawsuit Against Nephew Bryan Seaver

Khloé and Dolly: a timeline

Here's a look at the key moments in their friendship:

• Saturday, June 29, 2024: Kardashian celebrates her 40th birthday with a Dolly Parton-themed party, and Parton sends her a video message.
• March 3, 2025: Parton's husband, Carl Dean, dies at age 82.
• July 2025: Parton joins Kardashian for an episode of Khloé in Wonder Land, with Kardashian flying to Tennessee for the conversation.
• Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026: Parton dies at age 80 in Nashville. Kardashian shares her tribute the same day.
• Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026: Kardashian posts a tribute video to Parton on YouTube.
• Late September 2026: Kardashian tells People about her time with Parton in Tennessee.

A friendship she will never forget

More than two months after Parton's death, Kardashian's tributes show how much the friendship meant to her.

The trip to Tennessee and the video message Parton recorded for her birthday are memories she has not let go of.

As Kardashian put it, "There will never be another Dolly."