2 min read- In an Instagram post, Nate Berkus honored Dolly Parton after her death at 80, reflecting on their friendship and her lasting legacy.
- Parton was the first celebrity guest on The Nate Berkus Show in 2010, appearing simply because Berkus and his team invited her.
- Berkus remembered Parton as his “beloved, legendary, charming, kind, and funny friend,” joining fans in celebrating her life.
We all know Nate Berkus as a seasoned tastemaker now, but longtime design fans may remember his stint as a daytime talk show host. The Nate Berkus Show premiered on CBS in 2010, following Berkus’s years as a featured design expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He hosted 291 episodes before the series ended in 2012, and during its two-season run, Berkus welcomed a host of famous faces.
On Tuesday, following the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, Berkus posted on Instagram, reflecting on her life, their friendship, and the special place she held in the show’s history as his very first celebrity guest.
In the post’s caption, Berkus recounted how Parton had no real reason to come to the studio—no new books or projects to promote. She came simply because they had asked her to. Little did she know that she was the show’s first major guest. The pair shared a conversation about her career, which was already massive, her travels, and, of course, her taste—to which Parton joked she “never really had any.”
The comments section was flooded with hearts of various hues from fans and mourners, as well as sweet sentiments from Berkus’s followers, one writing, “What an incredible first guest, and what a beautiful legacy she leaves behind. Dolly was the warmest, most charismatic guest. Loved meeting her! 💔” Another called Parton an “angel on earth.”
Beloved by generations, Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and award-winning songwriting following her death at age 80. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes across social media, and Berkus’s is no exception. The interior designer finished his caption by calling Parton his “beloved, legendary, charming, kind, and funny friend.”
