Julianne Hough admired Dolly Parton for being "authentically true to herself".

The country music icon passed away on Tuesday (08.25.26), aged 80, and Julianne has paid a glowing tribute to the chart-topping star.

She told Extra: "Just how beloved she was by every single person and walk of life and how different we all can be, and yet there was a common agreement that she is love, she is light. She is authentically true to herself, which makes other people feel safe to be around her."

In 2018, Julianne was cast as Jolene in the Netflix anthology series Heartstrings, based on the Dolly Parton song.

And Julianne still has fond memories of her first-ever encounter with Dolly, who appeared as a guest on Dancing with the Stars.

The 38-year-old dancer shared: "I remember, she called me. I was in my office … She wanted to have herself with me to say she would love for me to play Jolene. I remember just being in tears."

Julianne observed that Dolly "never took herself too seriously, but took what she did very seriously".

The dancer shared: "We were talking between scenes and she always was like, 'You know what? You remind me of myself. You always want to do all these different things … You have all these dreams and ambitions,' and she's like, 'But just remember, always stay the artist that you are.'"

Julianne has carried Dolly's advice with her throughout her career.

She said: "I'm always trying to try different things and I love business and I love this and I love that, but really, my true nature is an artist.

"It was a lesson that I will constantly go back to remind myself, like, 'Are you staying true to yourself? Are you staying the artist that you are?'"

Meanwhile, Nashville International Airport is set to be renamed after Dolly.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said in a statement: "Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state.

"From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the volunteer spirit with her.

"At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favorite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness."