On Monday, May 19, legendary country star Dolly Parton was honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with a brand-new exhibit opening.
The exhibition is called Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker. To commemorate the grand opening, fellow country stars Alison Krauss & Union Station were on hand to perform Parton’s hits “Coat of Many Colors” and “The Seeker.”
After the performance, Parton made some remarks, thanking everyone who has helped her along the way to get where she is today.
“I’m so happy and proud to be here, I’m like Minnie Pearl, so proud to be here! And I am, I was so honored many, many years ago when they inducted me into the Country Music Hall of Fame…I just think it’s wonderful that I have been able to see my little girl dreams come true. It’s a long ways from the top of the Smoky Mountains to the top of the world, and thanks to you and all the fans and the people that have helped me along the way. I made it. I’m so grateful because it didn’t come without sacrifice,” said Parton.
She also teased that she held back some of her “major” artifacts for her own museum, which is opening up down the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the spring of 2026.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum said in a press release that the new Parton exhibition includes “clothing, awards, handwritten lyrics, instruments, photographs, exclusive interview footage and more.
Examples of displayed items include:
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 cowgirl outfit Parton wore 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 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.
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. The likeness of her on a Dolly Parton-themed pinball machine, made by Bally in 1979, was based on one of Langdon’s photos of her in this dress.
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.
An illustrated and in-depth exhibit companion book supplements in-person exhibit. It features historical photographs and artifacts from the exhibit. The book is available to purchase here or in the museum’s store.
