Harry Styles has kicked off his 30-date residency in New York’s Madison Square Garden with a musical tribute to musical legend Dolly Parton.
The world has been in shock since the “Jolene” singer’s death on Tuesday, with Parton having died aged 80 after a “brief battle with cancer”.
As Styles, 32, played the first of 30 upcoming shows at the legendary New York music venue – which comes one month after wrapping his record-breaking 12-show run at Wembley Stadium – the former One Direction singer honoured Parton on stage.
“I just want to say thank you to all the musicians over the years that have inspired me,” Styles told the 19,500-person crowd, adding: “Dolly, thank you so much.”
The Cheshire-raised musician then led his band and the crowd in a rendition of “I Will Always Love You”, the 1974 track written by Parton and later rearranged by Whitney Houston.
Styles’ last show at MSG will take place on 31 October, after which he’ll perform in Melbourne and Sydney in December. The Together Together Tour has been to Amsterdam, London, São Paulo and Mexico City so far.
Styles joined the biggest names in pop in paying tribute to Parton, with everyone from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Sabrina Carpenter having honoured the late country star in the wake of her death.
One of the most emotional tributes came from “Flowers” singer Miley Cyrus, who not only frequently collaborated with Parton but was also her goddaughter.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our heart,” she wrote.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.”
Cyrus continued: “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.”
