‘Heartbroken’ Dolly Parton tribute act vows to ‘continue for rest of my days’
Sarah Jayne Crust, who has performed as Parton for 32 years, said she has not yet come to terms with the news
The star of a Dolly Parton tribute act has vowed to continue for the rest of her life as she told of her heartbreak at the country music superstar’s death.
Sarah Jayne Crust, who has performed as Parton for 32 years, said she has not yet come to terms with the news.
“Obviously I was heartbroken yesterday evening when I heard the news and it has been a bit of a rollercoaster since,” she told the Press Association.
“She is such a global legend, superstar, everybody loves her and always will do. It is more apparent today.”
Ms Crust, 49, said Parton has personally thanked her for her work and added: “I will continue for the rest of my days.”
She will bring her Dolly Parton Experience to Brighton at the weekend and expects the show to be “very different”.
“There will be a lot of tears and a lot of celebratory singing and dancing along,” she said.
The 49-year-old, of Ashford in Kent, also leads a theatre show called Country Superstars, and works with her husband and daughter – and said their tours are usually booked 16 to 18 months in advance.
Of her music shows, she said: “At the end of the day Dolly is a storyteller. When 9 To 5 comes on you can’t help but want to let your hair down.
“I’ve got a feeling this weekend it’s going to explode. It will be very emotional.”
Lallie Wadham, who plays Parton in the Diamond Dolly tribute act, said she was in the supermarket and burst into tears when she heard the news.
“Dolly will be remembered for so many things, she was a huge philanthropist, she was an ambassador for positivity and she had a great sense of humour and could laugh at herself,” she told the Press Association.
“I think people want to see that, hear the jokes, hear about her life.”
Ms Wadham, 47, said she expects her next show to be “so emotional”
“It’s going to be hard work for me trying to keep it together onstage,” she said. “I think the outpouring of grief, it’s going to be huge communal mourning.”
Ms Wadham, of Southsea in Hampshire, said she will “do my best to keep her spirit alive” as she continues her shows.
Kelly O’Brien, 52, of The Dolly Show tribute act, said the news of Parton’s death was “devastating”.
“I think Dolly led from love, she had the biggest heart, she was glamourous on the outside and inside. She was kind and gave so much of her time energy and money to the things she believed in.”
Ms O’Brien, who is performing at Manchester Pride on Monday, said she expects the show to be “tough”.
She told PA: “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be hard.
“It’s a great show that celebrates her life over seven decades.
“We will have to tweak it a bit and make sure that it stays respectful.”
She added: “I just would like to say thank you (to Parton) for being such an inspiration to me and so many millions of fans around the world.”