When Dolly Parton sadly passed away in August 2026, the internet was immediately awash with tributes from all manner of musicians, artists, and fans. From Paul McCartney to Miley Cyrus, it seemed as though everybody was flocking to social media to leave tributes to the singer who was frequently dubbed “The Queen of Country.”
One of these tributes, however, really stood out from the crowd. The tribute in question came courtesy of the King’s Guard – members of the British army who famously protect royal residences – who delivered a joyful big band version of Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ outside Buckingham Palace! With over three and a half million views on YouTube alone, it’s fair to say this unusual tribute is really on the cusp of going viral.
The video’s comments section also reflects the poignancy of the King’s Guard tribute for Dolly Parton fans. “That was moving. I have often said she was a national treasure, but in fact, she was a global treasure,” said one fan, whilst another reminded the world that “even we Brits adored Dolly Parton with all our hearts.”
Of course, as some Music Man readers might already know, this is not the first time the King’s Guard have paid tribute to a recently-passed musical icon. Take the video below, for instance, which shows the soldiers tackling ‘Paranoid’ by Black Sabbath in the wake of the untimely death of the band’s ex-lead singer Ozzy Osbourne in July 2025.
Undoubtedly one of the most popular tributes delivered by the King’s Guard to date, however, is their take on ‘9 to 5’ by Dolly Parton. Not only did the cover put a smile on the faces of millions of people around the world, it also reminded them that the influence of the “Queen of Country” extended far beyond the USA.
Dolly Parton’s global influence was reaffirmed by the King’s Guard’s joyful ‘9 to 5’ tribute — a moving, unexpected salute. To explore the video, fan reactions and more on her life and legacy, discover the useful links below this paragraph.