Dolly Gets A Grand Ole Opry Send-Off With Songs and Videos

Carly Pearce and Jelly Roll closed the Grand Ole Opry’s official tribute to Dolly Parton on Saturday, Aug. 29, leading a sold-out crowd in “9 to 5” before the night ended with a video of Parton singing “I Will Always Love You.”

The country icon died Aug. 25 at age 80 after an undisclosed battle with cancer. Opry senior vice president and executive producer Dan Rogers called her “the most beloved human being in the world.” 

The evening mixed fond memories and heartfelt covers in a collective outpouring of love rather than heavy grief, according to The Tennessean. 

Parton’s presence was felt from the start. Fans lined up around flower beds of butterflies—her longtime symbol—before doors opened. Many women wore gowns and carried flowers; others wore Dolly T-shirts, cowboy hats and boots. Inside, a letter-writing station and a giant mural of Parton drew crowds.

Dolly Parton (1946-2026)

Videos of Parton’s Opry history played between performances. The most sentimental moment came from her niece Jada Star, who sang her original song “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.”

Pearce invited the audience to sing as “9 to 5” began. Jelly Roll, a Nashville native who had posted an emotional tribute after Parton’s death, joined as the chorus kicked in. Performers returned to the stage, locked arms, and let Parton have the last word through footage of her 50th Opry anniversary performance.

“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 in the video. “So thank you so much, and I will always love you.” The crowd stood for the farewell.