New York City Landmarks Dazzle For Dolly Parton

Two New York City icons shone a dazzling pink last night in honor of another icon, the great Dolly Parton, who died yesterday following a brief battle with cancer.

Both the Empire State Building and the New Year’s Eve dropping ball were lit with pink lights in Parton’s memory. Fittingly, both sites turned on their Parton-inspired lights at 9:25 p.m. Say it out loud: Nine Two Five. 9 to 5.

See photos and video below.

“Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans,” reads a message on the Empire State Building’s X account. “Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide. At Nine-Two-Five tonight, we celebrate her and her legacy.”

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Also going pink at 9:25 was the New Year’s Eve Ball at One Times Square, which kept its new look from that minute until 5 a.m. – another 9 To 5 movie and song reference.

“We all know Dolly loved a little extra sparkle,” says a note on the social media pages of One Times Square. “Join us tonight between 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. to see the New Year’s Eve Ball sparkle pink in her memory.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Parton “an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable champion of the working class. We are a better country because of her.”

Parton’s death prompted an outpouring of grief, condolences and tributes from the worlds of music, TV, film and theater.

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