Dolly Parton’s cause of death revealed as tributes pour in

Natalie Grant remembered Dolly Parton as an American icon whose warmth and faith were never an act.

The Christian singer recalled first meeting Parton while opening Dollywood’s season, when the country star asked if she could join Grant onstage to sing. “I’m at a park that’s named after you, of course you could come,” Grant said on “Fox & Friends,” laughing.

The pair later recorded “Step by Step,” the song Whitney Houston famously recorded for “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack. Grant said Parton initially had to decline because of her own busy recording schedule — but changed her mind weeks later after the song stayed with her.

“I received a letter and I’ll never forget it, on letterhead that had pink Dolly just as it would across the top,” Grant said. “Natalie, I just, I don’t know if you’ve found someone to sing this song with you yet, but this song just keeps ringing and calling me back.”

Grant said the personal note was a testament to Parton’s “authentic kindness” and “genuine generosity,” qualities she said marked the singer’s life just as much as her music did.

“Dolly is one of the greatest icons America has ever produced,” Grant said. “But for me, what marked my life was what her life was marked by, and that was authentic kindness, genuine generosity and a woman who really loved Jesus.”

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that she died after a brief battle with cancer. Grant said the singer’s ability to bring people together made the loss feel especially profound.

“The sky was darker because we lost our brightest star,” Grant said. “She knew how to unite people.”

Grant remembered seeing that generosity firsthand backstage at Dollywood, where she said Parton knew the names of roughly 25 employees and asked about their families.

“She genuinely loves people,” Grant said. “This isn’t a persona, this isn’t an act. She is a genuine lover of people, and we all could learn a little something from Dolly.”