Buckingham Palace Breaks Tradition to Honor Dolly Parton With a Moving Rendition of ‘9 to 5’

The Band of the Coldstream Guards; Dolly Parton.

The Royal Family/Instagram; Jason Kempin/Getty

The British royal family found a remarkably fitting way to say goodbye to Dolly Parton.

Just one day after the country music icon died at age 80, the Band of the Coldstream Guards performed her legendary hit “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace during the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony.

The unexpected tribute took place on the morning of August 26, with tourists gathered outside the palace as the military band brought Parton’s unmistakable song into one of Britain’s most historic royal settings.

The Royal Family later shared footage of the performance on social media, accompanying it with a heartfelt message.

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many,” the royal family wrote, also highlighting the millions of children who have received free books through Parton’s Imagination Library.

They ended the tribute with a simple message that carried enormous weight: “We will always ❤️ you.”

A country anthem echoed outside the Palace

The Band of the Coldstream Guards outside Buckingham Palace on Aug. 26, 2026.

The Royal Family/Instagram

There was something especially striking about hearing “9 to 5” played by a military band outside Buckingham Palace.

The song, released in 1980, was one of Parton’s signature hits and became an anthem for working people. Decades later, its appearance during one of Britain’s most recognizable royal ceremonies created an unexpectedly emotional farewell.

For a few minutes, a song born from Parton’s experience and humor was transformed into a formal royal tribute.

And that contrast may be exactly what made the moment so powerful.

Parton spent her career crossing boundaries. She could stand comfortably in country music, Hollywood, popular culture and philanthropy. She could perform for presidents and royalty while remaining closely connected to the working-class roots that shaped her childhood.

Now, one of her most recognizable songs was being played by the King’s guards.

Dolly’s connection to the royals went back decades

 

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The tribute was not simply a random musical gesture.

Parton had a long-standing connection with the British royal family, dating back to 1977, when she performed as part of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee.

She later spoke warmly about meeting the late Queen, describing the experience as one of the biggest thrills of her life.

Parton also had a friendly connection with Catherine, Princess of Wales. In 2023, she revealed that she had turned down an invitation from Kate to have tea because she was busy promoting her Rockstar album.

Rather than treating the story seriously, Parton joked that she had to decline because there was no opportunity to promote her album during the visit.

She later expressed a desire to welcome Kate and her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, to her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee.

Her relationship with the royal family was also about books

Dolly Parton in Nashville on May 19, 2025.

Jason Kempin/Getty

There was another important reason for the royal family’s tribute.

Parton’s Imagination Library became one of the defining parts of her legacy. The program provides free books to young children, and it eventually expanded internationally, including to the United Kingdom.

That mission closely aligned with Queen Camilla’s interest in literacy.

The Queen’s Reading Room also paid tribute to Parton, praising her commitment to getting books into the hands of children. The organization noted that the Imagination Library had distributed more than 300 million books over more than three decades.

So when the royal family described Parton as someone who brought “joy, comfort and inspiration”, they were remembering far more than a country singer.

They were recognizing a woman whose influence reached music, entertainment and the lives of millions of children.

A bittersweet farewell to an extraordinary icon

Dolly Parton performing in Nashville on Jan. 30, 2024.

Jon Morgan/CBS via Getty

Parton’s death was announced on August 25 by her nephew Bryan Seaver. Her representatives later confirmed that she had died after a brief battle with cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.

The news triggered an enormous wave of tributes from musicians, actors, celebrities and fans around the world.

But the image of the Coldstream Guards performing “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace may become one of the most memorable.

Dolly Parton spent more than six decades turning songs into memories.

On August 26, Britain gave one of those songs a new setting — beneath the walls of Buckingham Palace, during a centuries-old royal ceremony.

For a woman who spent her life bringing people together through music, it was a remarkably fitting final salute.