The Grand Ole Opry hosted a special Saturday evening celebration honoring the life and musical legacy of Dolly Parton, the country music icon and longtime Opry member who passed away at age 80. The entire performance was dedicated to showcasing Parton’s influential catalog through interpretations by various artists connected to her remarkable career.
Country artist Carly Pearce, who previously performed at Dollywood and joined the Opry family in 2021 following Parton’s personal invitation, opened the tribute with a rendition of “Those Memories of You.” Throughout the evening, performers including Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, and Molly Tuttle each delivered their own takes on Parton’s songs. Parton’s niece Jada Star also participated in the commemoration. The night concluded with a collaborative performance of “9 to 5” featuring all the Opry musicians, highlighted by a surprise appearance from Jelly Roll.
The program interspersed performances with video clips from Parton’s historic Opry appearances, culminating in footage of Parton performing “I Will Always Love You.” All proceeds from the sold-out event benefited Parton’s Imagination Library, an organization dedicated to fostering childhood literacy.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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