Dolly Parton Left Fans One Final Welcome… And Hearing Her Voice Inside A Museum Built Around Her Extraordinary Life Now Carries A Heartbreaking New Meaning

01/10/2026

Dolly Parton welcomes fans to new Nashville museum in emotional message recorded before her death

A recorded message from Dolly Parton is giving fans an emotional welcome to her new Nashville museum, weeks after the country music legend died aged 80.

Parton’s Life of Many Colors Museum, housed inside her SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville, opened on September 29 as planned. The singer had recorded the video earlier in the year, allowing her to personally introduce visitors to an exhibition devoted to her extraordinary life and career.

In the footage, Parton warmly addresses visitors and explains how proud she was of the project.

“Hi, everybody. It’s Dolly, and I am so proud to invite you to my Life of Many Colours Museum, opening right here in the heart of Nashville at my Song Teller Hotel.”

She goes on to describe the attraction as the largest exhibition dedicated to her life and career, bringing together the stories, songs and memories that shaped her journey.

“It includes all of the things that have helped this little girl’s dream come true, and I can’t wait to share it with you.”

The museum now allows fans to experience that journey even though Parton herself did not live to see its opening. She died in Nashville on August 25, 2026, aged 80, following a private battle with cancer. Her official announcement described her as a singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, playwright and author whose career spanned seven decades.

Inside Dolly Parton’s Life of Many Colors Museum

The museum occupies the entire third floor of the SongTeller Hotel and covers more than 20,000 square feet. It takes visitors through the different stages of Parton’s life, from her childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains to her rise as a country music star and eventual global fame.

The experience combines personal stories, rare memorabilia, interactive displays and multimedia installations. A recreation of the small cabin where Parton grew up forms part of the journey, while technology allows her own recorded voice and image to guide visitors through the exhibition.

The museum brings together items from across her career, including costumes, awards, records and other personal memorabilia. It also explores her work in music, film and television, as well as the importance of family and faith in her life.

Parton’s own description of the exhibition captures its intended journey: from “rags to rhinestones”, from Hollywood to Dollywood, and from her beginnings in country music to international recognition.

Visitors are encouraged to sing along, revisit some of the defining moments of her career and follow the story of the girl from East Tennessee who became one of the most recognisable figures in entertainment.

The exhibition was created by Dolly Parton Productions, with the design and curation led by her sister Rachel Parton George and niece Rebecca Seaver.

A new destination in the heart of Nashville

The museum forms part of the newly opened SongTeller Hotel, which was created in partnership with Parton and Herschend.

The hotel has 245 guest rooms and suites, along with two live entertainment venues, Jolene’s and Parton’s Live. The venues are designed around Nashville’s songwriting and performance culture, with live music featuring emerging artists and other performers.

The hotel and museum were originally expected to open earlier in 2026, but their joint debut ultimately took place on September 29.

The museum has its own entrance on 3rd Avenue North at 126 3rd Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, while occupying the third floor of the hotel.

Parton had previously spoken enthusiastically about bringing the project to Nashville, describing the hotel and museum as a way to create something special in the city she called home.

Now, her recorded presence gives the museum an especially poignant quality, with visitors hearing Parton tell her own story as they move through the exhibition.

Parton’s legacy of giving continues

The opening of the museum comes as supporters around the world continue to celebrate another major part of Parton’s legacy: her commitment to children and literacy.

On September 25, the Dollywood Foundation held the first Give Like Dolly Day, a new annual initiative created to honour Parton’s lifelong support for children and her Imagination Library. The date was chosen as a reference to her famous song and film 9 to 5.

The Imagination Library was founded by Parton in 1995 as a tribute to her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write.

The programme began in her home county in East Tennessee and provides children from birth to age five with a free, high-quality book delivered each month.

It has since expanded beyond the United States to include the UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. The Dollywood Foundation has established Give Like Dolly Day as an annual occasion encouraging people to support local Imagination Library programmes and help continue Parton’s commitment to childhood literacy.

Tributes from music’s biggest names

Parton’s death prompted tributes from some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.

Sir Paul McCartney remembered her as a “magnificent star” and “wonderful woman”, while Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger praised the way she brought people together.

“What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was,” Jagger wrote. “She brought so many people together; we will all miss her so much.”

Sir Elton John said he was “shocked and devastated” by Parton’s death, describing her as “a giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.”

Jane Fonda, Parton’s co-star in 9 to 5, also expressed her devastation and said the singer would remain “woven into all our lives and hearts forever”.

Beyoncé, who recorded a version of Parton’s Jolene for her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, said she would treasure the opportunity she had to work with the country music legend.

Taylor Swift also paid tribute, saying that a world without Parton “doesn’t feel possible, real, or right”. Swift described her as a woman of both “true grace and true grit”.

Celine Dion remembered Parton as “pure light”, while Billy Joel described her as a “legend”.

Sir Tom Jones paid tribute to Parton’s “angelic but powerful voice” and remembered her as a “wonderful and generous person”.

The tributes underline the reach of Parton’s career, but her new Nashville museum offers fans a more personal way to revisit the story behind the music.

Through the recordings she made before her death, Parton remains the voice guiding visitors through the exhibition she was so proud to share with them.

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