Following the death of Dolly Parton on August 25, 2026, at age 80, costume designer Bob Mackie posted a tribute to the singer on Instagram, remembering her as a generous and easy collaborator over decades of working together. "She was a joy and pleasure to dress," Mackie wrote, adding that she was fair to everyone around her and would be missed.
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Mackie, now 87, is one of the most decorated costume designers in American entertainment, with nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and a CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award to his name. Known for figure-hugging, heavily embellished gowns built around feathers, fringe and rhinestones, he built his career dressing performers including Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Elton John, earning a reputation for clothing designed, in his own words, for women unafraid to be noticed.
