Harry Styles stopped his Madison Square Garden show Wednesday night to remember Dolly Parton, then let Parton do the singing.
Late in the opening night of his Together, Together residency, Styles thanked the musicians who had influenced him. “I just wanna give a proper thank you to all the musicians who have inspired me over the years,” he told the crowd. “Dolly, we love you. Thank you so much.”
Parton’s recording of “I Will Always Love You” came over the arena speakers. Styles stepped away from the microphone and called to the crowd, “Sing it out, people.”
Parton died Aug. 25 at 80. The Madison Square Garden show was the following night.
Styles Let Parton’s Recording Take Over the Arena
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“I Will Always Love You” came after “Coming Up Roses.” Parton’s recording played for about a minute. She wrote the song and first released it in 1974.
Styles followed it with “Sign of the Times.” “Aperture” closed the concert. Wednesday was also the first night of his 30-show Together, Together run at Madison Square Garden.
The MSG Opener Came With a Different Setlist
“Dance No More” opened the show instead of “Are You Listening Yet?,” which had occupied that spot on earlier tour dates. “Carolina” returned to the set. “Cinema” and “Kiwi” also appeared for the first time on the tour.
Jamie xx opened the concert and is scheduled to open the rest of the Madison Square Garden dates. The New York run continues through Oct. 31.
His First Madison Square Garden Memory Started at 18
Harry Styles tells a story about how he kissed the floor right before his first-ever performance at Madison Square Garden. He was 18 years old.
Tonight, the artist is kicking off Night 1 of his sold-out 30-show “Together, Together” residency at the iconic New York venue. pic.twitter.com/eT9ItgBETb
— Variety (@Variety) August 27, 2026
Earlier in the concert, Styles told the crowd that an employee at Madison Square Garden had reminded him of his first performance there with One Direction. “I was told a story when I got here today,” Styles said. “I had the great privilege of playing this building for the first time when I was 18 years old.”
The employee had also been working at Madison Square Garden in 2012. Styles said he got out of the car that day, kissed the floor and announced, “I’ve made it to Madison Square Garden!”
He returned to the arena for 15 consecutive Love On Tour concerts in 2022. After the last show, Gayle King presented Styles with a banner marking the run. It was raised into the Madison Square Garden rafters.
His new residency has twice as many dates. Madison Square Garden says Styles will have played 52 solo headlining shows at the arena when the run ends Oct. 31.
Fifteen Shows Later, His Name Went Into the Rafters
Styles’ 2022 banner joined a very small group. At the time, Madison Square Garden said only four music-related banners hung from its rafters, belonging to Styles, Billy Joel and Phish. The venue said those four banners were held by only three musical acts.
The final night of that residency had another detail. Everyone in the audience received a feather boa.
Styles Once Told MSG He’d Gladly Come Back
Styles played Madison Square Garden twice that June. The second was sold out and ran for more than 90 minutes, with Kacey Musgraves opening. Musgraves came back during Styles’ set for one song.
“We’re gonna sing one of my personal favorites, and if you know the words, please do join us,” Styles told the crowd. They sang Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One.”
Near the end of the concert, Styles thanked the audience and left them with another promise. “I will gladly play this room anytime if you’ll have me back,” he said.