Hollywood has replaced Dolly Parton’s damaged Walk of Fame star, restoring a public memorial after vandals scratched the singer’s engraved name. Supporters had gathered at the 1984 plaque on Hollywood Boulevard with flowers, candles and photos following Parton’s death last week, and images published on Monday showed the star badly defaced before crews began repairs.
The Hollywood Historic Trust said it and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce would install a new plaque. "The Hollywood Historic Trust and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce are proud to honour the legacy of Dolly Parton with a replacement of her star," the trust wrote on Instagram. "The new star will be available for viewing this Friday."
Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce told reporters tribute items at the site were removed before work began, and that repairs had already been planned to address cracks on the plaque prior to the vandalism. The Walk of Fame runs along Hollywood Boulevard and contains more than 2,800 embedded stars recognising figures and groups across the entertainment industry.
The replacement comes amid a wider wave of memorials after Parton died last week aged 80. She was buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, following a private family funeral in Nashville on Friday. Tributes have continued across the music world, including a concert at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House where one of her nieces, Jada Star, performed.
Parton’s Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, has also announced permanent additions to honour what the park called its "dreamer-in-chief." The attraction, which Parton bought in 1982 and which draws about four million visitors a year, will add a waterfall outside the chapel steps and install stained-glass windows referencing the Bible verse "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Dollywood said it will introduce a new character named the Dream Maker next year to celebrate Parton’s work with children and her Imagination Library book donation programme.
The new Walk of Fame plaque will be open for public viewing on Friday, while Dollywood’s memorial features will roll out according to the park’s announced schedule.
