Tropical Storm Dolly not named after country star: ‘Purely coincidental’

Published August 27, 2026 1:00pm ET | Updated August 27, 2026 1:00pm ET



A remarkable coincidence took place after beloved country singer Dolly Parton’s death, when a tropical storm that formed over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday was given the preselected name Tropical Storm Dolly.

The name “Dolly” was chosen 30 years ago by the international committee of the World Meteorological Organization as part of a “strict procedure,” and bears no relation to Parton’s death on Tuesday. The odd series of events was noted as early as Wednesday, when meteorologist Roger Edwards described the “astounding coincidence” in a social media post.

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