The Grand Ole Opry turned its regular Saturday night show into a sold-out, standing-room-only tribute to Dolly Parton on August 29, with a lineup of country stars taking the stage to honor the late icon just days after her death.
Carly Pearce opened the night with a performance of “Those Memories of You,” marking the moment on her fifth anniversary as an Opry member, a spot she earned after Parton personally invited her to join in 2021. From there, the tributes kept coming. Kathy Mattea took on “Jolene,” while Molly Tuttle and Ketch Secor teamed up for “Just Someone I Used to Know.” Dan Tyminski, T. Graham Brown and Channing Wilson each delivered their own dedications, and newcomer Belle Frantz made her Opry debut during the show. Parton’s niece, Jada Star, also performed, adding a personal family touch to the evening.
The night built toward an emotional finale, with the full lineup of performers joining together for a rendition of Parton’s “9 to 5.” Opry member Jelly Roll made a surprise appearance to join them onstage. The show closed with a video of Parton performing “I Will Always Love You” as artists and backstage guests watched together in silence.
Parton first stepped onto the Opry stage in 1959 at just 13 years old and became an official member a decade later, in 1969. She remained closely tied to the Nashville institution for the rest of her life. She died on August 25 at age 80, following what her team described as a brief illness.
Organizers confirmed that a portion of proceeds from Saturday’s ticket sales will go toward Parton’s Imagination Library, the children’s literacy charity she founded to provide free books to young readers around the world.
The tribute adds to a wave of remembrances for Parton across the music industry this past week, including a separate fundraiser announced by fellow country star Garth Brooks. For fans still processing her loss, Saturday’s Opry show offered a fitting send-off, built entirely around the songs and spirit that made her a legend.
Discover also: Country Music Legend Dolly Parton Dies At Age 80 After Cancer Battle | Garth Brooks Honors Dolly Parton With ‘Dolly Day’ Tribute
Source: Grand Ole Opry
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Back Casting Room, where he covers celebrity biographies, family histories, and the lesser-known figures behind well-known names. His work focuses on separating verified public information from speculation, drawing on publicly available records, interviews, and credible reporting to build accurate, well-researched profiles.
With a particular interest in entertainment and pop culture, Adnan writes about everything from celebrity net worth breakdowns to the private individuals connected to famous names, the spouses, family members, and background figures whose stories rarely get told in full.
At Back Casting Room, the goal is straightforward: give readers accurate, well-sourced information without the clickbait or unverified claims that often surround celebrity-adjacent stories.
