The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will spotlight the life and legacy of one of country music’s most celebrated figures in its upcoming exhibition Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker, opening May 20 and running through September 2026.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The exhibition traces Parton’s extraordinary career across more than six decades, highlighting pivotal moments where she defied expectations, overcame setbacks and forged her own path to become a global icon.
“Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame was one of the greatest moments of my life, and being able to have a personal exhibit for the fans that put me there is a very big deal to me,” shares Parton. “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.”
Artifacts on display for Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker:
- Parton’s first draft of handwritten lyrics to her classic song and #1 country hit “Jolene.”
- A custom-built Gibson five-string banjo with a white metallic finish, rhinestone embellishments and butterfly motifs used by Parton at performances in 1992 and on her “Halos & Horns Tour” in 2002.
- A Sony portable cassette tape recorder Parton used when she wrote the songs “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene” and “The Seeker.”
- A cowgirl outfit Parton wore in scenes in the 1980 Hollywood film “9 to 5.”
- Hand-painted and beaded boots, designed by Bambi Breakstone, which Parton wore at the photoshoot for her 2002 album, Halos & Horns.
- The Kennedy Center Honors medallion Parton was presented with in 2006 to honor her lifetime of contributions to American culture.
- A Tony Chase-designed lace dress, embellished with pearl beading, Parton wore when she performed the R&B classic “I’m a Hog for You Baby” as a duet with the Muppets character Miss Piggy on an episode of Parton’s ABC-TV variety series “Dolly!” in 1987.
- A Lucy Adams-designed dress, with lace sleeves and skirt and a butterfly-shaped rhinestone design, which Parton wore at appearances on the cover of the 1974 album Porter ’n’ Dolly.
- The Gibson L-30 archtop acoustic guitar, built around 1935 — given to Parton as a gift from her brother Floyd Parton — which she played in the 1991 music video for “Silver and Gold,” from her album Eagle When She Flies.
- The dress, with balloon sleeves, chiffon skirt, bugle beading and rhinestone accents Parton wore at a 1978 photoshoot by celebrity photographer Harry Langdon Jr.
- A Steve Summers-designed metallic dress, with mesh fabric, spikes and beaded fringe, worn by Parton in photos promoting her singles “World on Fire” and “We are the Champions/We Will Rock You,” from her 2023 album, Rockstar.
- The Andreas-designed, rhinestone-covered platform mules Parton wore at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2019.
- Designed for Parton by Lucy Adams, a pantsuit with bell sleeves, bell bottoms and rhinestone-and-bead embellished floral shapes, worn by Parton when she toured with her Traveling Family Band in 1975, and on the cover of Dolly, her 1975 album also known as The Seeker/We Used To.
The exhibit delves into formative stories from Parton’s life, including her determined Opry debut at age 13, when she secured a last-minute performance slot by persuading Jimmy C. Newman to give up his. It also explores her bold personal style, which she embraced despite pushback from early industry gatekeepers who feared her appearance might overshadow her talent.
In addition to the exhibit, the museum will host supporting programming throughout its run, including public events and family-oriented arts and crafts activities. A special display dedicated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and its global literacy mission will be featured in the museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center.
Timed are included with museum admission, and advance reservations are recommended due to anticipated demand. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
