Taylor Swift and Céline Dion honour 'eternally generous' Dolly Parton

Taylor Swift and Céline Dion have paid heartfelt tributes to the late Dolly Parton.

On Tuesday, a family representative announced that the country music icon had died at the age of 80 following a "brief battle" with cancer.

Following the sad news, Swift issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter in which she described the Jolene hitmaker as the "gift that kept on giving".

"A world without Dolly doesn't feel possible, real, or right," she told the outlet. "But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one."

Swift also reflected on the way Parton was able to simultaneously have the "softest heart" and a "backbone of steel".

"Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too. Dolly, I'll think of you each step of the way," the singer-songwriter added.

In an Instagram post, Dion labelled Parton to be "pure light".

"We will now be missing one of the most joyful voices this world has ever known," the superstar mused. "Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all. We will always love you. Rest in peace, Dolly."

Many other celebrities have honoured Parton too.

Gwen Stefani shared that she was "heartbroken" to learn of the I Will Always Love You singer's passing, and Courtney Love labelled Parton a "national saint".

Meanwhile, Billy Joel declared that the entertainment industry had "lost a legend".

"Dolly Parton has transcended time and become one of those iconic artists who is known for just being Dolly, beyond a specific song or moment in time. I was one of the lucky ones whose music she covered," he wrote. "We will miss her and her presence on this earth, but we will reap all the rewards of her life dedicated to making it a better place."

Parton will be laid to rest in a "small, private" service held for immediate family.