Bill Maher and Ricky Schroder Draw Backlash for Dolly Parton Tributes After Singer's Death at 80
Dolly Parton died on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her family announced in a video posted to the singer's social media accounts. Her nephew Bryan Seaver delivered the announcement. The family shared Parton's final message: "I will always love you" — the title of the song she wrote in 1973 and performed countless times since.
Tributes poured in from across the music and entertainment world. Reba McEntire and Paul McCartney were among those who reacted with grief and love, Billboard reported. A co-star from the 1989 film Steel Magnolias said: "Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life" (The Guardian, 26 August 2026). Reuters compiled reactions from notable figures worldwide on 25 August.
Not everyone's remembrance landed gently. On the Friday episode of his HBO show Real Time, Bill Maher used his monologue to question the scale of America's mourning. He argued the country was fixated on Parton's death rather than the United States' trade war with Canada. To illustrate the breadth of the tributes, Maher listed them: events in London, the Santa Monica ferris wheel lit with hearts, the Empire State Building lit in pink, and The Sphere in Las Vegas adding a nipple — a reference to a Parton-themed projection. The segment drew criticism from viewers who found the timing and tone unsavoury (The Hollywood Reporter, 29 August 2026).
Ricky Schroder, who portrayed Parton's father in two biopic films about her childhood, also drew negative attention. He wrote online: "I didn't agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support … but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy." After facing backlash, Schroder reportedly followed up with an Instagram Stories clip about Parton's support of the COVID-19 vaccine, writing: "I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened" (The Hollywood Reporter, 29 August 2026).
Josh Cohen, co-host of Fox Sports South Florida, responded on X: "Congratulations to former child TV actor Ricky Schroder on becoming the first person to disrespect Dolly Parton in her passing. What an absolute douche."
Parton was 80 years old at the time of her death, which her family confirmed on 25 August 2026 (USA Today, 26 August 2026). The outpouring that followed spanned continents, genres and generations — and so did the friction over how, and when, a public figure's passing should be discussed.
