Harry Styles performing live on stage during his residency at Madison Square Garden
Music

Harry Styles Honors Country Queen Dolly Parton At Madison Square Garden Residency Opener

The former One Direction star kicked off his massive New York concert run with a heartfelt nod to his musical influences.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Night one of Harry Styles' highly anticipated stint at Madison Square Garden brought massive energy, bold fashion choices, and an unexpected salute to a country titan. The British superstar officially kicked off his multi-night run in New York City by tipping his hat to legendary icon Dolly Parton, thrilling thousands of fans gathered inside the famous venue. Taking center stage in Manhattan, the pop titan made certain his opening night delivered memorable moments. Mid-show, the performer took a breather from his usual repertoire to honor the legendary figures who inspired his musical evolution. He expressed his desire to offer a genuine message of gratitude toward the veteran creators who helped mold his sound over the years.

How did Harry Styles tribute Dolly Parton at MSG?

Harry Styles performing live on stage during his residency at Madison Square Garden
Harry Styles performing live on stage during his residency at Madison Square Garden

The tribute to Parton quickly became the most talked-about moment of the evening. Audience members immediately jumped onto social media to post live clips of the surprise performance, celebrating the singer for bridging classic country with modern pop inside the world's most famous arena. The energetic crowd responded with deafening cheers as the chart-topper showed off his genre-blending chops. Showcasing respect for music icons has become a staple of the performer's live setlists, yet honoring the country queen on night one felt particularly special. Since launching his solo journey after years of massive boy-band success, the British hitmaker has routinely drawn artistic inspiration from classic rock and vintage pop luminaries. Giving Parton her flowers on such a massive stage demonstrated how deeply those influences run.

Harry Styles performing a tribute to Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden.
“I wanna say a proper ‘thank you’ to all the musicians over the years that’ve inspired me,” the former One Direction singer (seen above performing at MSG) said.

What is Harry Styles Madison Square Garden residency schedule?

Harry Styles performing a tribute to Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden with the audience holding up their phone lights.
Styles then played Parton’s biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You,” and asked fans to sing along. (Pictured: The audience holding up lights at MSG.)

This latest New York concert series reinforces the soloist's standing as one of the absolute juggernauts in modern live entertainment. Moving far beyond his origins in One Direction, the superstar continues to sell out massive multi-night runs in major metropolitan cities across the globe. With several concerts remaining on his current New York schedule, attendees are already guessing which cover songs might pop up next. If this opening show proved anything, it is that concertgoers should expect plenty more surprise moments before his extended residency in Gotham comes to a close.

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Harry Styles performing live on stage during his residency at Madison Square Garden
“I wanna say a proper ‘thank you’ to all the musicians over the years that’ve inspired me,” the former One Direction singer (seen above performing at MSG) said.
Styles then played Parton’s biggest hit, “I Will Always Love You,” and asked fans to sing along. (Pictured: The audience holding up lights at MSG.)
Parton (seen performing on 2006) died on Wednesday at age 80.
The 10-time Grammy winner (seen performing above at the Glastonbury Festival in 2014) was secretly battling cancer.
Several stars honored Parton (seen above performing on “Today” in 2014), including Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

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People also ask

Did Harry Styles honor Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden?
Yes, Harry Styles performed a special tribute to Dolly Parton during the opening night of his Madison Square Garden residency in New York.
What did Harry Styles say about his musical influences on stage?
The singer took a moment during his set to publicly thank the various legendary musicians whose work inspired him throughout his career.