The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has joined millions globally to mourn the death of legendary country singer and songwriter Dolly Parton.
Recall that the music legend died on Tuesday at the age of 80.
Her nephew and long-time security chief, Bryan Seever, confirmed her death in a video posted to Parton’s official social media handles on Tuesday.
Reacting to the tragic news, Obi, in a tribute shared on his X handle on Wednesday, described Parton as a remarkable woman whose greatness went beyond her extraordinary music, noting that her most enduring legacy was the person she remained despite fame, wealth and success.
According to him, Parton’s humble beginnings in rural Tennessee shaped the compassion, humility and generosity she displayed throughout her life.
The statement reads in full: “Dolly Parton: The Compassion That Came From Humble Beginnings.
“There is something deeply moving about Dolly Parton that goes beyond her extraordinary music. For those of us who admire her, perhaps the most enduring part of her story is not the fame, the records, the awards or the wealth, but the person she remained after all of them.
“Dolly Parton’s greatness, to me, goes far beyond her extraordinary music. It is in the person she remained despite the fame, wealth and success.
“She came from poverty in rural Tennessee, from a large, humble family with little materially but rich in love, faith, resilience and family values. She never seemed to forget those beginnings. Instead, she carried them into her music and her life.
“That is why her songs resonate so deeply. She sang about love, heartbreak, hardship, loneliness, hope and the struggles of ordinary people not merely as a performer, but as someone who understood them. Her music gave dignity to people who were often overlooked.
“Her compassion seemed to flow naturally from her upbringing. Even at the height of her success, she retained a remarkable warmth, humility and generosity, particularly toward children, the poor and those in need.
“I admire Dolly Parton not simply because she became a great musician, but because success never made her forget where she came from. She turned her humble beginnings into music (Coat of Many Colours) that comforted millions and a life that continues to inspire.
“For me, that is her greatest song: the sound of a good heart that never forgot its roots.
“May God Almighty, who made her such a compassionate soul, grant her soul eternal rest.”