NASHVILLE − Carly Pearce and Jelly Roll capped a night of joyful remembrance at the Grand Ole Opry’s official tribute to Dolly Parton on Saturday, Aug. 29, with fond memories and heartfelt covers leading to an arm-in-arm finale.
A sold-out crowd witnessed a collective outpouring of love for the singer-songwriter described as “the most beloved human being in the world” by Opry senior vice president and executive producer Dan Rogers. The night culminated with a touching farewell to the country icon, who died on Aug. 25 at 80 after an undisclosed battle with cancer.
Parton’s presence was felt from the beginning.
Before the Opry doors opened, fans formed a line wrapping around flower beds filled with butterflies, Parton’s longtime symbol. Many women
showed up in gowns, with some carrying flowers. There were also plenty of Dolly T-shirts, cowboy hats and boots, as fans put their appreciation on display. Inside the lobby, a letter-writing station let fans share their feelings, and a giant mural of Parton drew crowds of photographers to the Opry’s second floor.
Jennifer Hancock of Nolensville, Tennessee, said the tribute was her best chance to publicly remember a hero.
“It's been a sad week for fans and people who loved her very much,” Hancock said. “So this is a wonderful time to get together with other people who cared about her and say goodbye.”
A large butterfly-shaped floral arrangement was revealed as the curtain opened, with Pearce starting into “Those Memories of You,” a track Parton recorded with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
“Dolly, we love you,” she said.
Pearce was celebrating five years of Opry membership and would return later to channel many aspects of Dolly, from her humor and fierce independence to her Appalachian roots.
Rogers’ heartfelt dedication touched on each of those points, remembering Parton for her charitable spirit and immense talent. He rattled off Parton’s career accomplishments but noted, “That's not what any of us think of first when we think of Dolly.”
“We think of the children she gifted books, or the people who were inspired to follow a bold dream,” Rogers said.
The night was punctuated by songs and stories from a lineup booked before Parton's death. Even so, everyone had a connection to the legend. Molly Tuttle, Dan Tyminski, Channing Wilson, Kathy Mattea and T. Graham Brown all mixed their own songs with Parton’s catalog. Meanwhile, newcomer Belle Frantz made her Opry debut by tapping Parton's love of gospel music.
Despite the expectation of tears and grief, the mood was light throughout. The most sentimental moment came from Parton’s niece Jada Star, who performed her original tune “The Orchard” from the Parton family’s 2024 album, “Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables.” Star told the crowd her family had “seen your tributes,” and thanked them.
“We couldn’t share Dolly with you any more than you could share the moon or sun with someone,” she said.
Videos of Parton’s Opry history played between performances, and at the end, Pearce invited the crowd to sing. Jelly Roll appeared just as the chorus of “9 to 5” kicked off, and the Opry House erupted in cheers.
The Nashville native had shared an emotional tribute to Parton on social media after her death, and he sang along to the rousing tune as the night’s performers returned to the stage. They finished the tune together, but let Parton herself have the final word.
Locking arms, those on stage watched as Parton sang “I Will Always Love You” through a video of her 50th Opry anniversary performance. The crowd stood and shared in the moving moment, bidding a beloved star farewell.
“It's been a wonderful life for me and I appreciate all of you, and this song kind of sums up how I feel about you,” Parton said. “So thank you so much, and I will always love you.”
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dolly Parton got the final word at her emotional Opry tribute
