The vandalism occurred shortly after the iconic country star’s death at 80
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star was vandalized shortly after her death at age 80
- Crews are replacing the damaged star, which Parton originally received in 1985 alongside Sylvester Stallone
- Parton was a country music icon and philanthropist, known for her Imagination Library and 10 Grammy wins
Dolly Parton‘s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was vandalized following her recent death and will soon be replaced.
The star appeared to have Parton’s name scratched out, according to CBS Los Angeles and NBC Los Angeles. Crews were seen placing a new star in her honor to replace the one that was defaced on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Parton was awarded her star on the Walk of Fame in 1985 in a dual ceremony with Sylvester Stallone, according to NBC Los Angeles. The pair costarred in Rhinestone in 1984, in which Parton starred as fictional country artist Jake Harris, who vowed to her New York City venue manager in a bet that she could turn anyone into a country music star. Her boss (Ron Leibman) selected cab driver Nick Martinelli (Stallone, 80).
The ensuing story saw the unlikely duo bond and connect with country music, while Parton donned her signature rhinestones for much of the film.
PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce regarding the vandalism incident. The organization said in a statement to Page Six that repairs are already underway.
“A fan went to the star yesterday and reported on social that the star was vandalized with many scratches,” Ana Martinez, spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told the outlet. “From the photo she posted, it does appear the star was vandalized with scratches.”
“This repair was set up late last week and the crew just completed the first part of making said repairs,” Martinez continued, per the outlet. “The star repairs are currently ongoing and are done by the Hollywood Historic Trust which maintains and repairs the Walk of Fame stars. The star will cure and will be polished on Friday for fans to enjoy.”
Credit: Hollywood Historic Trust/Instagram
The incident comes shortly after the country icon’s death at 80 on Aug. 25. Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced his aunt’s death in an Instagram video. Parton’s team later announced in a statement that her death came shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer.
Parton, a prolific voice in country music and philanthropy, was known for her larger-than-life stage presence in music and in film. Throughout her life, Parton won 10 Grammy Awards after being nominated for 55, while simultaneously giving back to vulnerable communities in her native Tennessee and across America.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Among Parton’s most noteworthy charitable efforts is her Imagination Library, which has provided books to American children from underserved communities and donated more than 200 million books worldwide since its founding in 1995. The philanthropic organization began by focusing on Parton’s hometown of Sevierville, Tenn., in the Smoky Mountains.
Read the full article here