- - Dolly Parton Surprised with a Live Bagpipe Player for 80th Birthday from Bono: 'Are You Calling Me an Old Bag?'

Jack IrvinJanuary 21, 2026 at 5:25 AM

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Dolly Parton/Instagram; Lionel Hahn/Getty

Dolly Parton; Bono in May 2025 -

Dolly Parton celebrated her 80th birthday on Monday, Jan. 19

Bono sent the country icon a live bagpipe player

“Well, that’s a surprise. Are you calling me an old bag?” she quipped to the instrumentalist

Bono is wishing Dolly Parton a happy birthday!

Parton celebrated her 80th trip around the sun on Monday, Jan. 19 and shared a video to Instagram of herself getting surprised with a live bagpipe player sent by the U2 musician, 65, as a gift.

In the video, Parton sits on a couch and appears surprised as a bagpiper plays “Happy Birthday” on his instrument. “Wow! This is from Bono,” she exclaimed before blowing out candles on a cake, laughing and thanking the performer.

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“Well, thank you guys. I appreciate all of it,” she told the musician. “Well, that’s a surprise. Are you calling me an old bag?”

“In no way at all,” confirmed the instrumentalist. “You’re looking fantastic.”“Well, you better not,” quipped Parton. “That was very thoughtful of you.”

In the post's caption, the "Jolene" singer wrote, "Now that’s what you call a surprise! This old bag sure feels the love! 😉💖 Thank you, Bono and @u2 for making my birthday extra special."

The bagpipe player himself, Pat Darcy, took to the comments section. "I’m so glad it worked out. It was a delight to play for you on behalf of Bono and the boys. Happy 80th," he wrote.

In a post on his own account, Darcy explained, "This morning I had the pleasure of playing a few tunes, on behalf of Bono and the boys, for Dolly Parton for her 80th birthday. My pipes tech Joy was able to join us which was wonderful."

Jason Kempin/Getty

Dolly Parton in June 2024

He continued, "I also presented her with a pint of Guinness. There was even time for a nice chat. She was exactly who you’d hope she’d be. Happy 80th Birthday Dolly!"

Elsewhere in the comments, Shania Twain left a celebratory note. "I love it! Happy birthday Dolly," wrote the "Any Man of Mine" artist.

Jim Wright

Dolly Parton

In honor of Parton's 80th birthday, PEOPLE is celebrating Parton's life and career with a new special edition, available now. The issue features our November 2025 cover story interview with the country icon.

"People say, 'Well, you're going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years. I feel like I’m just getting started," the 11-time Grammy winner told PEOPLE exclusively at the time.

PEOPLE's special issue is available at newsstands and Amazon now.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”