Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Restored After Vandalism
Hollywood Boulevard has recently become an unofficial gathering spot for grieving fans, as tributes to one of country music’s most cherished icons accumulated along the iconic sidewalk. Flowers, handwritten notes, and keepsakes quickly transformed a section of pavement into a makeshift memorial.
This memorial formed around Dolly Parton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, following the heartbreaking news of her passing at age 80 after what her estate described as a brief battle with cancer. Fans flocked to the site in the hours after the announcement, leaving behind personal tributes ranging from nail polish to a box of Dolly Parton-branded cornbread mix, honoring the singer’s legacy.
However, the outpouring of grief took an unexpected turn when the star itself became a target of vandalism. Parton’s original star has now been replaced with a new one following repairs, as the landmark was found extensively scratched, rendering her name barely legible beneath the damage.
According to Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the star had already been scheduled for repair due to preexisting cracks, and the vandalism coincidentally occurred just after tribute items were cleared to allow the planned work to begin. A visitor to the site, Lore Corona, reported that a custodian mentioned someone had kicked around candles left as tributes and used the broken shards to scratch the star, while a man had also stolen flowers from the memorial shortly after.
Parton’s connection to the Walk of Fame dates back decades, with her original star unveiled in 1984 alongside her ‘Rhinestone’ co-star Sylvester Stallone. She later became the first woman in the 21st century to receive a second star, honored in 2018 alongside her ‘Trio’ collaborators.
The first star, located at 6710-6712 Hollywood Boulevard, had reportedly shown visible cracks and weather damage even before the vandalism, which influenced the Hollywood Historic Trust’s decision to prioritize its repair. The Trust is responsible for maintaining and repairing stars along the Walk of Fame whenever damage occurs.
Construction crews were seen cleaning and repainting the star as repairs commenced, with news outlets capturing footage of the restoration process throughout the effort. As of the completion of repairs, no suspects had been identified in connection with the vandalism, and it remains unclear whether local law enforcement has opened a formal investigation into the incident.
Parton’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes far beyond her Walk of Fame star, reflecting her decades-long career that produced hundreds of songs, including timeless hits like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her catalog has accounted for over 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams throughout her career.
Beyond music, Parton established a reputation as one of the rare entertainers whose appeal transcended generational and political lines, earning nearly every major honor available to a musician during her lifetime. Her estate has also announced Dollyfest, a two-day festival planned for Nashville and London in 2027, continuing to celebrate her legacy even after her passing.
For now, the newly repaired star stands as a fresh, undamaged tribute to Parton’s decades of contributions to music and entertainment, providing fans with a proper site to continue honoring her memory. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has not indicated whether any additional security measures will be implemented to protect the star going forward.
As tributes continue to pour in from fans and fellow artists around the world, Parton’s restored star serves as a small but meaningful symbol of the lasting impact she left on the entertainment industry.
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