Dolly Parton could command a stage in front of thousands, but meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time left the country music legend with one very specific worry: she was terrified she would not know how to curtsy properly.

The encounter took place nearly five decades ago, when Parton traveled to the UK to perform for the late monarch during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. Despite her nerves about royal protocol, Parton would later remember the meeting as one of the most thrilling experiences of her life.

Dolly Parton Met Queen Elizabeth II in Glasgow

Parton met Queen Elizabeth II backstage at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow on May 17, 1977, following a special Jubilee Gala Performance held as part of the celebrations marking the Queen’s 25th year on the throne.

Parton later revealed that she had not even known she would be performing for the Queen until she was told during her flight to the UK.

Speaking to Insider in 2023, Parton recalled just how nervous she had been before meeting the monarch.

She was not worried about performing. Instead, she was concerned about getting the royal greeting right.

Parton admitted she was “scared to death” that she would not know how to curtsy or whether she would “bend right.”

Her fears quickly disappeared once she met the Queen.

Parton described Elizabeth as warm and sweet and said she could immediately tell that the monarch was a giving person.

“Just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing,” Parton said.

Although royal protocol required her to bow and follow the appropriate formalities, Parton felt the Queen herself was not overly concerned with whether everything was executed perfectly.

She recalled that Elizabeth seemed to understand that the protocol was simply something she had to follow, and that mistakes were acceptable.

The Meeting Became a Lasting Memory for Dolly

The 1977 encounter remained a meaningful memory for Parton throughout her life.

Years later, she continued to speak warmly about meeting Elizabeth, including when she congratulated the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, celebrating 70 years on the throne.

In a video message, Parton appeared with a framed photograph from their 1977 meeting visible behind her.

Addressing the Queen, she expressed her admiration for Elizabeth’s extraordinary reign and presence, saying she was “more than pearls” and “more than platinum.”

Parton also described the Queen as a shining diamond who had been in the world for so long and told her that she would always love her.

The message offered another glimpse into how strongly Parton remembered the encounter nearly 45 years after it happened.

Dolly Parton’s Tribute Following Queen Elizabeth’s Death

When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, Parton once again reflected on the honor of having met and performed for her.

In a heartfelt message, Parton recalled her trip to London in 1977 and the opportunity she had to meet the monarch.

She praised Elizabeth for carrying herself with grace and strength throughout her life and expressed her sympathy to the Queen’s family.

The tribute was particularly poignant because Parton had continued to hold onto the memory of their first meeting decades earlier.

The Royals Remembered Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on August 25, 2026, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans, musicians and celebrities around the world.

The royal family and organizations connected to the monarchy were also among those remembering the country music icon.

On the Wednesday following Parton’s death, the King’s Guard paid tribute to her during the Changing of the Guard by performing a rendition of her famous song “9 to 5.”

The musical tribute offered a fitting acknowledgment of an artist whose songs had become recognizable around the world.

Queen Camilla’s charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, also shared a tribute celebrating Parton’s commitment to reading and children’s literacy.

The organization highlighted Parton’s Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million books over more than 30 years.

The tribute emphasized the lasting impact of Parton’s efforts to put books into children’s hands, giving young readers opportunities to develop their imaginations and discover a lifelong love of reading.

Two Icons Who Left a Lasting Mark

Parton’s connection with Queen Elizabeth began with a nervous young performer wondering whether she would manage a royal curtsy correctly.

What remained with her, however, was not the formality of the occasion but the warmth she felt from the monarch.

Nearly 50 years after their meeting, Parton was still speaking about Elizabeth with admiration and affection.

And following Parton’s own death in 2026, the tributes from the royal world offered a reminder that her influence extended far beyond country music.

From her unforgettable songs to her philanthropy and her commitment to helping children discover books, Dolly Parton left behind a legacy that continues to reach people — including generations far removed from the moment when a nervous country singer first stepped forward to meet a queen.

Source: Compiled from various sources