The Grand Ole Opry will dedicate its Saturday, Aug. 29, performance to Dolly Parton, honoring the country music icon’s life, legacy and lasting influence on the genre following her death at 80. Parton died Tuesday in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. The tribute will take place as the Opry continues its yearlong centennial celebration.
Carly Pearce is among the artists scheduled to perform. Pearce has a particularly close connection to Parton, having worked as a performer at Dollywood as a teenager before Parton personally invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2021. The current lineup also includes Channing Wilson, Belle Frantz, Kathy Mattea, Molly Tuttle, Dan Tyminski and T. Graham Brown, according to the Opry’s official calendar.
The Opry began honoring Parton almost immediately after news of her death. During Tuesday night’s show, Opry member Rhonda Vincent dedicated her performance of “Coat of Many Colors” to Parton and later sang “9 to 5” and “Jolene.” Morgan Myles also performed “I Will Always Love You.”
Parton’s relationship with the Opry stretched back more than six decades. She first appeared on the legendary Nashville stage as a young teenager in 1959 and became an official Opry member in January 1969. The Opry has described her as one of its most influential members, while its leadership has emphasized the generations of artists and fans she inspired through her music, humor and generosity.
The Aug. 29 show will be broadcast through the Opry’s flagship station, WSM-AM, as well as online at the Opry and WSM websites. The Opry’s marquee will also pay tribute to Parton throughout Saturday evening. Details can also be found HERE.
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