Rami Kleinstein in deep mourning: "You will not return. I will always love you"

The world of music and culture has been in deep mourning since the news broke last week of the death of legendary singer and songwriter Dolly Parton at the age of 80, following a struggle with health issues. While her family stated that she opened doors for entire generations of musicians and changed the course of history, musician Rami Kleinstein has now joined the tributes in an emotional personal post and a special performance in her memory.

Kleinstein shared memories from his youth in the United States, when he was 13 and lived in Virginia, a region considered part of the American South. "Just as Tel Aviv is not Israel, so New York and Los Angeles are not the USA," wrote Kleinstein.

"The USA is everything they are not, and the other culture — country music, hospitality, and yes, also conservatism that sometimes borders on ignorance and extreme racism."

According to him, Parton was the undisputed queen of the South: "Singer, songwriter, musician, and all at the highest levels. She hosted television shows, acted in movies, in short, a red, white, and blue icon. It was impossible not to be in love with her. Such authenticity — will not return and can no longer return."

Alongside the warm words, Kleinstein did not hesitate to express veiled criticism of current attempts to replicate her style and country music. When questioning Beyoncé's album (which included a tribute to the song "Jolene") and the work of Miley Cyrus, he wrote: "Really??". However, he was quick to make an exception for only one singer: "Whitney Houston, who surpassed Dolly's original with I will always love you."

Kleinstein signed off the post with the words, "I will always love you, Dolly Parton." In addition, he recorded a moving tribute performance of Parton's massive hit, "Jolene," in the studio, singing the lyrics with emotion as a personal and sincere farewell to the American legend.