Ariana Grande honored the late Dolly Parton with a poignant pre-show tribute during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in London.
Before Grande took the stage at the O2 arena, concertgoers were shown a video of the country star singing the classic “I Will Always Love You.” The clip played as a memorial tribute to the country music icon, who died Tuesday at age 80, allowing fans gathered inside the arena to remember the legendary singer/songwriter before the evening’s main event began.
Instead of just incorporating the tribute into Grande’s setlist, the pop singer and her team placed it before the concert itself. Once the video concluded and the venue’s opening sequence finished, Grande took the stage to begin the show.
“I Will Always Love You” was written and recorded by Parton in 1974, with the song later becoming a global phenomenon through Whitney Houston’s rendition for 1992’s The Bodyguard. In the days following Parton’s death, artists across the music industry have continued to celebrate her singular legacy and the songs that helped make her one of country music’s beloved figures.
Grande’s London memorial came amid her ongoing residency at the O2, part of her Eternal Sunshine Tour and her first major trek since 2019. When the tour wraps on Sept. 1, Grande will take a break, as she announced earlier this month. “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the Aug. 2 statement said. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Watch the video of the tribute below.
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