DOLLY PARTON SENDS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO DARREN BAILEY AFTER TRAGIC HELICOPTER CRASH THAT CLAIMED FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
Nashville, Tennessee — Country music legend Dolly Parton has expressed her deepest sympathy to Darren Bailey following the devastating helicopter crash in Montana that claimed the lives of four members of his family earlier this week.
In a touching message shared through her publicist, Dolly said she was “heartbroken” upon hearing the news and offered prayers of comfort to Bailey and his loved ones. “My heart aches for the Bailey family,” she said. “It’s a tragedy no one should ever have to face — to lose children and grandchildren so suddenly. It’s one of life’s cruelest heartbreaks, when a parent must say goodbye to the young.”
Bailey, a former Illinois state senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate, confirmed that his son Zachary (37), daughter-in-law Kelsey (35), and their two children, Vada Rose and Samuel, were killed when their helicopter crashed near Ekalaka, Montana, on Wednesday night. Their third child, Finn (10), was not aboard and survived.
Dolly’s statement echoed the sorrow felt across the nation, describing the moment as “a reminder of how fragile life is — and how deeply love endures, even through loss.” She added, “I’m sending all my love, prayers, and strength to Darren Bailey and his family. May they find peace in faith, in memory, and in knowing their angels will always be with them.”
Tributes have poured in from across the country as political and entertainment figures offer support to the Bailey family. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and several fellow lawmakers also released statements expressing condolences, calling the tragedy “an unimaginable loss.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred in a remote area of Carter County.
Dolly Parton, known not only for her music but also for her compassion and philanthropy, often reaches out to families affected by tragedy. Her words — simple yet sincere — captured the collective grief of a nation mourning alongside the Baileys.
As Dolly wrote in closing: “There are no words that can mend a broken heart, but love — shared and remembered — will carry us through the darkest nights.”