Empire State Building Honors Dolly Parton With Pink '9 to 5' Lights After Her Death

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Empire State Building illuminated its tower in a pink sparkle from 9:25 p.m. to 10:25 p.m. Eastern Time to honor Dolly Parton, hours after the country music icon died at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. The start time was a deliberate nod to her 1980 hit song and film “9 to 5.”

The Manhattan landmark’s lighting display was among the most visible public tributes on the day of Parton’s death, drawing crowds to Midtown and sharing skyline space with statements from New York elected officials and the building’s own social media channels.

Editor’s note: This article draws on reporting from CBS New York, wire services including the Associated Press and Reuters, and official statements from the Empire State Building and New York City officials, August 25, 2026.

What the Empire State Building did

The building’s operators announced that tower lights would switch to a pink sparkle pattern for one hour on the evening of Parton’s death. The display ran from 9:25 p.m. to 10:25 p.m. ET on August 25.

In a social media post, the Empire State Building said: “At nine-two-five tonight, we celebrate her and her legacy.” The timing referenced “9 to 5,” the workplace anthem Parton wrote for the 1980 comedy in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

Detail	Information
Date	Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Location	Empire State Building, Midtown Manhattan
Lighting	Pink sparkle on the tower
Duration	9:25 p.m.–10:25 p.m. ET (one hour)
Symbolic time	9:25 p.m. references “9 to 5”

The building described Parton as “a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans” and noted her philanthropic work through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide.

Officials also said the illumination honored the Imagination Library, the literacy program Parton founded in tribute to her father, who could not read or write.

Why the timing mattered

Parton released “9 to 5” in 1980 as both a chart-topping single and the title track for a film about office workers pushing back against a sexist boss. The song became a pop-culture shorthand for workplace frustration and female solidarity, earning Parton an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

Choosing 9:25 p.m. rather than a round hour allowed the building to embed that reference into a live memorial without explanation — a pattern the landmark has used before when linking lighting schedules to cultural milestones.

The one-hour window also gave photographers and mourners a defined period to gather along 34th Street and surrounding blocks, where the 102-story Art Deco tower remains one of the most photographed structures in the United States.

Parton’s death on the same day

Parton’s family confirmed she died peacefully in Nashville on August 25, 2026. The announcement came through her nephew; cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Her death ended a career that spanned Appalachian radio, Hollywood soundtracks, theme parks, and a philanthropy network centered on childhood literacy. Tributes began within hours across Nashville, Washington, and entertainment capitals worldwide — but the Empire State Building display gave New York a highly visible, skyline-scale response on the same calendar day.

Parton had long-standing ties to New York. She received a key to the city from Mayor Ed Koch in a 1978 City Hall ceremony, performed at Carnegie Hall in 1993, and saw a Broadway musical adaptation of “9 to 5” open in 2009. In 2022, the MTA released limited-edition Dolly Parton MetroCards tied to her Diamonds & Rhinestones collection.

New York officials and public reaction

Several New York leaders posted tributes as news of Parton’s death spread and the lighting plan was confirmed.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani wrote on social media that Parton was “an extraordinary person and an irreplaceable champion of the working class” and that “we are a better country because of her.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul called her “a once-in-a-generation talent, on and off the stage” and praised philanthropy that “saved countless lives.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer said “all of America is mourning this monumental loss.”

City Council Speaker Julie Menin highlighted the Imagination Library and Parton’s COVID-19 vaccine research donation toward early Moderna work in 2020.

In the Theater District, fans and performers who had worked with Parton on Broadway spoke to local media about her warmth backstage. Stephanie J. Block, who starred in the “9 to 5” musical, recalled Parton embracing her after an audition and said “when you’re in Dolly’s presence, you do want to rise up and be your best self.”

How the Empire State Building uses tower lights

The Empire State Building’s LED lighting system changes colors throughout the year to mark holidays, charitable causes, sports championships, and notable figures. Operators publish schedules in advance when possible and coordinate displays with partner organizations.

Memorial lightings for entertainers and public figures are not uncommon, but the “9 to 5” time cue made Parton’s tribute distinctive — blending a technical lighting schedule with a specific song title millions of Americans recognize instantly.

The building’s observatory remained open during regular hours; the pink display was visible across much of Manhattan and from vantage points in New Jersey and Queens.

Other tributes continuing this week

The Empire State Building display was one piece of a broader mourning period. President Donald Trump said flags would fly at half-staff for a week beginning Tuesday night. Producers of “Dolly: A True Original Musical” — a Broadway show about her life with previews set for December 7, 2026 — said the production would continue “as was Dolly’s wish.”

Nashville institutions, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, opened condolence books and lowered flags. Dollywood said park operations would continue while setting aside space for visitors to pay respects.

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Discussion

The pink lights turned a private loss into a shared skyline moment — but memorials like this invite questions about how cities choose whom to honor.

1. Does a landmark lighting tribute meaningfully honor a public figure, or is it mainly symbolic?

The Empire State Building’s display lasted one hour and referenced a specific song. For fans who never visited Midtown, did the gesture still resonate — or did other tributes matter more?

2. Why did New York lean into the “9 to 5” reference rather than another Parton classic?

“Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” are equally famous. Was the workplace anthem the right choice for a building in a city of office towers, or would another song have fit better?

If you saw the lights or followed the tributes online, what moment from Parton’s career or charity work stood out most?

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