Orville Peck Sings ‘I Will Always Love You’ for Dolly Parton in London

“Dolly was my hero,” the masked country singer said, before performing a cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” during a meet-and-greet at Rough Trade record store

Orville Peck warned fans gathered for a performance at Rough Trade in East London that he was dealing with some heavy emotions following the death of Dolly Parton earlier that day. The masked country singer was making an appearance at the record shop to promote his forthcoming LP Mule, due Sept. 18.

“I’m a little bit of a mess right now,” Peck said, before offering his take on what made the country music songwriter, philanthropist, and globally recognized superstar so special. “She really stood for kindness and I think that’s something that is really lacking in the world these days… I feel we can always remember what she stood for.”

Peck, an openly gay artist in country, went on to speak at length about what Parton meant to him personally. He says he never put much stock in the idea of a “hero,” but ultimately realized one clear truth: “Dolly was my hero,” he said, his voice cracking. “I think as a gay man coming into country music and feeling sort of alone, the thing that always felt comforting is, like, just knowing Dolly existed in country…made me feel like maybe I had a friend there.”

Then he dedicated a performance of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” to his hero: “We love Dolly and this is for her.” Peck also performed Parton’s goodbye song to Porter Wagoner when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut last month in Nashville.

Parton died Tuesday at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Along with Peck and Jack White, who was also in London for a concert and performed a cover of “Jolene” in tribute, artists like Shania Twain, Sabrina Carpenter, and Brandi Carlile have all been paying homage to the Country Music Hall of Fame member.

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