Dolly Parton and the time she came to Solihull

Dolly Parton has died aged 80, with the legendary singer's family confirming her death today, Tuesday, August 25.

For millions of people around the world, Dolly Parton was far more than a country music star.

She was a singer, songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman and philanthropist whose career stretched across almost six decades.

And here in Solihull, there is a small piece of Dolly's remarkable story which is worth remembering.

Because the country music icon once came to the borough.

Dolly Parton's Solihull connection

On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, Dolly Parton brought her An Evening with Dolly Parton tour to the NEC.

The venue is often described as being in Birmingham, but the NEC is actually within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, making Dolly's appearance a genuine Solihull connection.

It was one night in a hugely successful European tour which saw Dolly perform across the UK and Ireland.

By then, she was already one of the most recognisable entertainers on the planet.

She had written some of the most famous songs of the 20th century, starred in films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, and built a reputation for her warmth, humour and generosity.

But on that March evening, she was simply Dolly, standing on stage at the NEC in front of a crowd who had come to hear some of her greatest songs.

A night of Dolly classics

The An Evening with Dolly Parton tour was packed with songs which had made her a global star.

Among the songs performed during the European shows were Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors, Here You Come Again, I Will Always Love You and Islands in the Stream.

There were also songs including Two Doors Down, Little Sparrow, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Me and Bobby McGee and God's Coloring Book.

The show wasn't simply a collection of hit songs.

Dolly was joined by her band and mixed music with stories and humour, giving audiences the sort of personal performance which became one of the defining features of her live shows.

And there was plenty of spectacle too, with Dolly famously making her entrance on a hydraulic lift.

Where else did Dolly go in Solihull?

This is the part of her visit which remains something of a mystery.

There are plenty of memories and stories surrounding Dolly's visits to Britain, but there does not appear to be reliable contemporary evidence showing that she visited particular restaurants, shops, hotels or attractions around Solihull during her 2007 trip.

So while it would be tempting to say she went for a meal in Solihull town centre, stopped at a particular hotel or visited somewhere such as Knowle or Shirley, there isn't enough evidence to make those claims.

What we can say is that she came to the NEC and performed in the Solihull borough.

And perhaps that makes the connection even more intriguing.

A global superstar came to the area, performed for thousands of people and then moved on with her tour, leaving behind a small but fascinating piece of local history.

Dolly's incredible legacy

Dolly's connection to Solihull is only a tiny part of a career which changed music and popular culture.

Born in Tennessee in 1946, she grew up in a large family with very little money before becoming one of the world's most successful singer-songwriters.

She wrote more than 3,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Her songs became standards, with I Will Always Love You becoming one of the most famous songs in the world after Whitney Houston's version.

She also became a hugely successful actress, starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 9 to 5, while her business ventures included the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee.

But her legacy goes beyond entertainment.

Her Imagination Library has provided millions of free books to children, while her charitable work made her one of the most admired figures in American public life.

She was also recognised with numerous awards throughout her career, including Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

A final memory of Dolly in Solihull

Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday.

Tributes are now being paid around the world to a woman whose songs have been part of people's lives for generations.

And here in Solihull, there is one particularly special memory to look back on.

On March 28, 2007, Dolly Parton walked onto a stage at the NEC and performed for a crowd in the borough.

Nearly two decades later, that night has become part of Solihull's musical history.

Dolly may have travelled on to her next destination the following day, but for one night, one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever known was here.

And what a night it must have been.