Harry Styles paid tribute to Dolly Parton during the opening night of his Madison Square Garden residency.
The former One Direction singer, 32, took the stage at the famed New York City venue on Wednesday and surprised the sold-out crowd with a dedication to the late country legend. Styles spoke directly to the audience before launching into the emotional moment.
“I wanna say a proper ‘thank you’ to all the musicians over the years that’ve inspired me,” Styles said from the stage. “Dolly, we love you, thank you so much.”
A few seconds later, Parton’s biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You,” began playing through the arena. Styles then asked the audience to sing along as they held up lights from their cell phones, turning the venue into a sea of illuminated tributes.
The moment carried extra weight coming just one day after news surfaced that Parton had died at age 80. The 10-time Grammy winner had been secretly battling cancer before her passing, according to reports.
Styles was not alone in honoring the “Jolene” singer. Several other musicians paid tribute to the late star, including her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. The “Flowers” songstress, 33, shared her grief on Instagram Wednesday.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” Cyrus wrote on the platform. “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.”
Cyrus revealed that one of her “last conversations” with Parton was about “music and metamorphosis,” She added: “I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things. 💖 @dollyparton”
Eminem, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Bob Mackie and many more celebrities also honored Parton in the wake of her death. Reports said that Parton will be laid to rest in “a small, private service for immediate family” being planned in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the viral moment that preceded Styles’ tribute, the “Watermelon Sugar” singer had already made headlines for his transformed setlist and stage production as he launched the first of 30 scheduled shows at the Garden. The residency marks a major return to live performance for the pop star, who has spent recent years balancing music with growing film credits.
Styles’ next MSG show is scheduled for Thursday night in New York City.
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