Dolly Parton superfan's heartbreak as legend dies

A man whose home is packed with rare Dolly Parton memorabilia said he was "devastated" after hearing the country music icon had died aged 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

Lee Smith, 36, from Guernsey, has spent nearly two decades building an extensive Dolly Parton collection, featuring signed albums, dolls, perfume, wigs, records and handcrafted replicas inspired by the singer.

Speaking among shelves filled with memorabilia, he said: "I was devastated. I didn't believe it at first."

He explained that Parton's storytelling and songwriting had inspired him and had helped give him confidence as a teenager. He said she had felt "almost like a fairy godmother".

Parton, whose career spanned more than 60 years, wrote more than 3,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide. She was also known for her charitable work, including her Imagination Library literacy programme.

Now, alongside fans paying tribute around the world, Smith said he was mourning a star who had been part of his life for nearly 20 years.

Smith, who has a leg tattoo in honour of Parton, said his admiration for the singer began when he was seven years old, listening to her music on cassette tapes in the car with his parents.

Smith said the music remained the most important part of her legacy.

"My favourite piece of my collection? I'm going to say it is just the music," he said.

Smith met Parton once, at Wembley Arena when he was 17.

"It was only five minutes, but that five minutes felt like a whole hour," he said.

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