WANTAGH, NY — America mourned the loss of Dolly Parton Tuesday, who passed away at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her family. At a concert at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Tuesday night, multi-platinum recording artist Pitbull paid tribute to the country music legend and philanthropist with a performance of a song they co-wrote, "Powerful Women."
In a video circulated by the theater, Pitbull — real name Armando Christian Pérez — called Parton "a hardworking woman. Intelligent, sophisticated, funny, powerful, intimidating, but more than anything a good human being with a good heart."
"She showed me a whole lot of love," Pitbull said. "More than anything, we celebrate Dolly Parton…the legend that will live forever."
After dedicating the performance to Parton, Pitbull performed "Powerful Women," which samples Parton's hit "9 to 5." Pitbull said he and Parton had not performed the song together.
Despite working mostly outside Parton's genre, Pitbull was not the only artist opening up about what Parton had meant to him Tuesday.
In a statement on X, rap artist Eminem — real name Marshall Mathers — shared a letter Parton had sent to him after his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"I'm sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had a an impact on me. She definitely didn't have to take the time to do it," he wrote. "Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words."
Elsewhere, tributes rolled in fro country music stars including George Strait and Reba McIntyre, elected officials from Parton's native Tennessee and President Donald Trump, who ordered flags to be flown at half mast in her honor.
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