Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk star returned to glory with special ode to late singer after it was destroyed
Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star has been restored, and it’s now looking every bit as dazzling as the late country music legend herself.
Crews repaired the beloved singer’s star Wednesday after it was damaged in the days following Parton’s death.
The star has since been transformed into a touching memorial, surrounded by delicate white feathers and bright yellow flowers. A butterfly was also placed at the center of the star beneath Parton’s name, a poignant nod to one of the symbols most closely associated with the late entertainer.
The yellow flowers appear to pay tribute to Parton’s 1989 hit “Yellow Roses,” the second single from her album “White Limozeen,” per American Songwriter.
And the butterfly is perhaps an even more personal tribute.
Parton famously embraced butterflies throughout her decades-long career, incorporating the colorful insects into her music, fashion and business empire.
Her 1974 song “Love Is Like a Butterfly” made the creature part of her musical legacy, while butterflies also became a recurring feature in her stage wardrobe and performances, according to Yahoo! Entertainment.
Even Dollywood’s logo features a butterfly-inspired design, with the “W” resembling a pair of wings.
Parton also revealed she had pastel-colored butterfly tattoos, explaining that she got them to cover scars.
The singer once described butterflies as her favorite symbol because of their beauty and gentle nature.
“They didn’t sting. They didn’t bite, and they were so beautiful,” Parton told W Magazine in 2021.
She recalled wandering through the Great Smoky Mountains as a child and chasing butterflies through the woods.
“I just loved them because they were colorful and gentle, and I just kind of related to them with my own personality,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt anybody. Didn’t want to bite. Didn’t want to sting, and I still don’t.”
The tribute comes after Parton’s Hollywood memorial briefly became the target of an ugly act.
Following her death, fans descended on Hollywood Boulevard to leave flowers and pay their respects at the star, creating an impromptu shrine for the country superstar.
But the scene took a shocking turn when visitors discovered the flowers had disappeared and scratches had been carved across Parton’s name on the brass star.
Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told TMZ that the star already had cracks and was scheduled for repairs. She said a fan was responsible for removing the flowers and scratching the star.
Now, the vandalized landmark has been given a fitting makeover, one that celebrates the woman behind the name.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Just weeks before her death, the icon had appeared in a video promoting Dollywood’s new NightFlight attraction, sporting computer-generated butterfly wings.
Parton joked that her doctors had “clipped” her wings after preventing her from attending the event in person.
Her wings may have been clipped, but her Hollywood star is shining once again.