Performing at Reading Festival in 2026, Maisie Peters was standing in front of an enormous crowd. She took a break from her set to pay tribute to one of her most beloved artists, Dolly Parton, who had passed away only days before. Maisie gave a long speech about how singular Dolly was as an artist, and it quickly became clear how much she meant to the young singer. Then Maisie launched into a cover of ‘Here You Come Again’, which is sure to pull on Music Man readers’ heartstrings.
Maisie’s cover started off slow and atmospheric. It felt infused with her own style, and the slow, sparse nature of it felt perfect for creating a poignant moment to remember Dolly’s work. Then the rendition kicked up a notch, becoming more upbeat and shifting to a more loyal reconstruction of Dolly’s own country sound, and the Reading Festival crowd couldn’t help but sing along. It was the perfect way to remember her, with one online viewer commenting, ‘Such a sweet tribute to Ms. Dolly.’
I felt quite surprised to see the passionate tribute to Dolly taking place at Reading Festival. While I was growing up, Reading and Leeds Festivals were still places almost exclusively for alternative music. So, to see a country music star celebrated here felt out of the ordinary. However, Reading and Leeds have broadened the genres featured in their lineups in recent years, and with artists like Maisie Peters on the lineup, Dolly’s influence is bound to be more prominent.
Not long ago, Dolly would have stuck out like a sore thumb on the Reading Festival lineup. However, Music Man readers may remember her being welcomed with open arms to another British festival twelve years ago. Dolly Parton’s appearance at Glastonbury Festival was a truly exciting moment for British fans. Returning to watch the videos of her performing there now and seeing the sizes of the crowds that she pulled in just goes to show how beloved she was outside of her home country.
Over the conversations that have been had about Dolly since her passing, one thing has become clear. Her work overcame many boundaries to touch the hearts of people across the world. No matter who you are or where you live, Dolly has the ability to come along and spread joy with her music. This beautiful tribute by Maisie Peters is just another reminder of how Dolly continues to touch hearts and bring people together, almost 60 years since the beginning of her career.