The British singer took a moment during his “Together, Together” tour performance to recognize Parton as one of the musicians who had inspired him throughout his career.

“I wanna say a proper ‘Thank you’ to all the musicians over the years that’ve inspired me. Dolly, we love you, thank you so much,” Styles told the crowd as fans responded with loud cheers.

Moments later, Parton’s 1974 classic “I Will Always Love You” began playing inside the packed arena.

Rather than performing the song himself, Styles encouraged the audience to join in and enjoy the moment. Fans raised their mobile phone lights, creating an emotional scene across Madison Square Garden as the song played.

Among those in the audience was Styles’ fiancée, actress Zoë Kravitz, who joined the crowd during the tribute.

The tribute came during the first night of Styles’ 30-show Madison Square Garden residency, which is part of his global “Together, Together” tour. The residency is sold out and marks his only United States dates on the tour this year.

Parton died on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer. Her death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a video shared through her Instagram account.

Seaver said the announcement was something Parton had asked him to make years earlier, reflecting the singer’s awareness of how difficult the moment would be for her family.

Parton leaves behind one of the most influential legacies in music. During a career spanning decades, she became known for songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” while also establishing herself as an actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

“I Will Always Love You,” which Parton wrote and originally recorded in 1974, became an even bigger global hit when Whitney Houston recorded her version for the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.”

Styles’ tribute was part of a wider wave of tributes from artists and public figures following Parton’s death. John Mayer also honored the country icon on the same night, performing “I Will Always Love You” during his SiriusXM show in Amagansett, New York.

For Styles, the Madison Square Garden tribute offered a simple but powerful farewell to an artist whose music had influenced generations.

As the audience sang along to Parton’s timeless song, the moment became a celebration of her life and the lasting impact of her music.