Dolly Parton celebrates quite a milestone this year. It's her golden anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In honor of her 50th year, there's a special exhibit at the Opry House that has a special connection to Parton's history with the Opry.
Dolly: My Opry Memories features 24 outfits Parton has worn on the Opry stage during the last 50 years. Taking into consideration Parton's snazzy style, expect lots of sequined stage wear and lots of bling!
Among the pieces on display are the dress Parton wore on the night of her Opry induction in 1969; the gown she wore onstage in 1995 during an "I Will Always Love You" duet with Vince Gill; and the ensemble she donned during a surprise Opry appearance in 2017 celebrating the 40th anniversary of Reba McEntire's Opry debut.
In addition to apparel, the exhibit are exclusive videos of Dolly talking about her favorite Opry memories along with rare performance clips spanning her five decades of Opry membership.
"It was always my dream to be on the Opry," says Parton. "I actually got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry when I was about 10 years old. I officially became a member back in 1969, and I cannot believe I'm celebrating 50 proud years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry! They call it the 'Mother Church' because the old Ryman was a church, but 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' — if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. I am excited to be coming back home to celebrate 50 years of membership," she adds.
DOLLY WEEK IN OCTOBER
Mark your calendars for Oct. 10 – 12 because the Opry celebrates Dolly Week with special performances:
Thursday, Oct. 10 — Opry Country Classics featuring performances of Parton's number-one hits.
Friday, Oct. 11 — Dolly's Mountain Soul: Bluegrass, Americana & Roots Music honors Parton.
Saturday, Oct. 12 — Dolly Parton's 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary Celebration featuring Parton and many others (two shows)
The special exhibit runs through Thursday, Oct. 31. Hours vary daily. Tickets are $17 per person. For $42, you can get the Dolly Combo package that includes Dolly: My Opry Memories plus the Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour.
The Grand Ole Opry House is located at 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville. For tour tickets and show tickets, call 800-733-6779 or visit opry.com.
