Remembering Dolly Parton, Beloved Opry Member
By Lane Vaughn
On Saturday, August 29, our Grand Ole Opry show will honor Dolly Parton. Tune in via livestream on Opry’s Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as through our digital streaming partners, Circle Country and RFD-TV.
A LITTLE GIRL FROM EAST TENNESSEE
Dolly Parton was first introduced to the Grand Ole Opry audience, and to the world, in 1959. Johnny Cash welcomed out “A little girl from East Tennessee,” and 13-year-old Dolly took the stage. She performed George Jones’ “You Gotta Be My Baby” and earned three encores that night—an early sign of what was to come.
The crowds loved her from the first note. And they never stopped.
TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born the fourth of twelve children, on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. The Parton family’s “Tennessee Mountain Home” was a small log cabin deep in Appalachia, and the music that ran through those hills infused every part of their simple life. Dolly’s great grandfather J.R. Owens was a renowned banjo player, and her grandfather, the Rev. Jake Owens, was a gifted fiddler.
In her songs, Dolly often described her early life as humble and hard-spun, but full of love and music. Still, Dolly saw a world beyond the Smoky Mountains. Her ambition—and the encouragement of her uncle, musician Bill Owens—took her to a television variety show in Knoxville, to her first single, and to that first Opry performance. When she graduated from high school, she headed for Nashville and Music Row.
After several more Opry performances, in 1969, she fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming an official Opry member—a label she would proudly cherish for the next fifty-seven years. She faithfully followed the Opry from its former home at the “Mother Church,” Ryman Auditorium, to its new home in the ‘70s, saying, “It’s sacred to me, wherever it goes—the church of my heart.”
“For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York,” she once said. “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”
WORKING 9 TO 5
What transpired in those nearly six decades was a career covered countless times in articles, biographies, and even an upcoming Broadway musical. She recorded nearly 50 albums, won 11 GRAMMY Awards, sold more than 100 million records, earned an honorary Oscar, founded her own entertainment company, and opened an amusement park. She was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and she performed on the Opry more than 100 times.
But perhaps the numbers that tell Dolly’s story best are the ones that measure her impact beyond music: more than 300 million free books given to children through her Imagination Library; more than $600 million donated to causes including childhood literacy, disaster relief, medical research, and community support in her home state; and countless lives touched by her generosity.
LOVE IS LIKE A BUTTERFLY
It’s hard to put into words what Dolly Parton meant to the world—and to the Grand Ole Opry. The legacy she leaves, and the lessons she taught us, have made an indelible mark.
Her music revealed a profound belief in the goodness of others and a witty, fiery insistence on remaining true to herself. Dolly had a gift for turning her personal stories into songs that belonged to everyone, leaving us a little wiser, a little kinder, and a lot more willing to be ourselves.
That same spirit shines throughout Opry, where Dolly formed lasting relationships with generations of artists. From inviting Carly Pearce (who got her start performing at Dollywood) to become an Opry member, to celebrating her 50th year as an Opry member alongside dozens of fellow performers, Dolly’s presence in recent years was defined by mentorship and friendship. We celebrate her yearly through our “Opry Goes Dolly” shows and we honor her throughout the Opry House: in the mural on our second floor and in her iconic outfits displayed in our galleries.
Dolly’s love is like a butterfly—a rare and gentle thing—one whose effect will be felt for generations. We will honor Dolly at our Grand Ole Opry show on Saturday, August 29, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting her Imagination Library. We invite you to tune in as we say goodbye to a true icon: gifted musician, Opry member, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and friend.
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