Ladysmith Black Mambazo Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton After Her Death at 80
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo honoured the late Dolly Parton, who died at 80, reflecting on their decades-long musical bond
- The South African group collaborated with Parton on covers of 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' and 'Peace Train' in the 1990s
- Sibongiseni Shabalala described Parton as a cultural ambassador whose humanitarian work touched people across the globe
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South African vocal legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo have paid a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton following the American country icon's death at the age of 80, recalling a musical friendship that spanned more than three decades and crossed two very different musical worlds.
The group's connection to Parton dates back to 1995, when they collaborated on a rendition of Bob Dylan's ‘Knockin' on Heaven's Door.’ They later appeared alongside her on ‘Peace Train,’ a cover of the Cat Stevens classic that featured on her album ‘Treasures’, and joined her for a US television special in November 1996 to perform the track live.
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A bridge between two musical worlds
Sibongiseni Shabalala, son of group founder Joseph Shabalala and a current member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, spoke to TshisaLIVE about what Parton meant to them. He described her as far more than a celebrated recording artist, calling her a cultural ambassador and philanthropist whose influence stretched well beyond Nashville.
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Shabalala reflected on how their collaborations managed to weave together two entirely distinct traditions: Parton's signature country sound and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's rich South African harmonies. The result, he said, was music that dissolved cultural and geographical boundaries and continues to resonate with listeners today.
Check out the Instagram video below:
How Parton discovered Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Interestingly, Parton had previously revealed that she first encountered the group through a Life Savers television commercial. The moment she heard them, she said, she knew she wanted them on her record. She spoke warmly about using music as a vehicle to bring people together and find common ground across cultures.
For Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Parton's passing carries a weight that goes beyond losing a fellow artist. They also lost a collaborator who genuinely valued their sound and helped introduce it to a global audience. The group urged people to remember her not only for her remarkable career but also for the generosity and humanitarian spirit she brought to everything she did, with her influence set to live on through her music and the millions of lives she touched.
Dolly Parton has died
Dolly Parton's family confirmed her death on 25 August 2026 in a statement posted to her official Instagram account.
The country music legend had publicly spoken about ongoing health struggles in the weeks leading up to her passing.
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Source: Briefly News
