The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will open a guest book this weekend, inviting visitors to share memories and condolences for Dolly Parton following her death.
The museum’s current exhibit, “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker,” opened in 2025 and is set to close on October 4, 2026. Even after the exhibit ends, Dolly’s presence will remain throughout the museum, including in the rotunda and in the “Sing Me Back Home” exhibition.
The exhibit focuses on turning points throughout Parton’s more than 60-year career, when she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities in the world.
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.
Access to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit is included with museum admission. A limited number of timed tickets for the exhibit are available each day. Advance reservations are encouraged and ticket availability can be found on the museum’s website.
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
