Country Music Hall of Fame Museum to open exhibit exploring the life and career of Dolly Parton
The exhibit will be open from May 20, 2025, until September 2026 and features clothing, awards, handwritten lyrics, instruments and more.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is opening a new exhibition that will explore the life and career of Dolly Parton.
“After accomplishing enough for three lifetimes, Dolly Parton continues to astound and amaze us with her boundless talent, her vivacious wit and her tremendous generosity,” said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Like all great artists, Parton has demonstrated consistently that she can transform adversity and setbacks into works of stunning beauty and insight into the human condition.”
The exhibition, Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker, will focus on how she overcame challenges and defied expectations to become an icon throughout more than 60 years of her career. The exhibit will be open from May 20, 2025, and will run until September 2026.
“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,” said Dolly Parton. “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.
The exhibit will feature clothing, awards, handwritten lyrics, instruments, photographs, exclusive interview footage and much more. Some examples of items to be displayed:
- Parton’s first draft of handwritten lyrics to her classic song and #1 country hit “Jolene.”
- A cowgirl outfit Parton wore in scenes in the 1980 Hollywood film “9 to 5.”
- 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.
- The Kennedy Center Honors medallion Parton was presented with in 2006 to honor her lifetime of contributions to American culture.
- A Steve Summers-designed metallic dress, with mesh fabric, spikes and beaded fringe, was 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 Museum encourages you to buy your tickets in advance as there is only a limited number of timed tickets available each day. To find out more information about the exhibit or purchase tickets, visit their website.
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