01of 06Dolly Parton.Sundholm Magnus/action press/REX/ShutterstockTo celebrate Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member, “Dolly: My Opry Memories” opened earlier this week in Nashville. The exhibit will run through Oct. 31 and feature two dozen wardrobe pieces the country music icon has worn on the Opry and Ryman Auditorium stages, as well as videos of Parton discussing her favorite Opry memories and rarely seen performance clips.“Celebrating 50 years of being a member of the Opry is a thrilling feeling and being able to share some of my iconic Opry costumes with the public is the rhinestone on top of the bustier,” Parton told PEOPLE in a statement.
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Dolly Parton.Sundholm Magnus/action press/REX/Shutterstock
To celebrate Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member, “Dolly: My Opry Memories” opened earlier this week in Nashville. The exhibit will run through Oct. 31 and feature two dozen wardrobe pieces the country music icon has worn on the Opry and Ryman Auditorium stages, as well as videos of Parton discussing her favorite Opry memories and rarely seen performance clips.
“Celebrating 50 years of being a member of the Opry is a thrilling feeling and being able to share some of my iconic Opry costumes with the public is the rhinestone on top of the bustier,” Parton told PEOPLE in a statement.
02of 06Courtesy Grand Ole OpryFrom left to right:1960s: An outfit from one of Parton’s many performances at the Opry — then located at the Ryman Auditorium —that decade. The singer often performed with Porter Wagoner.1969: Ten years after making her debut at age 13, Parton performed on the Opry for the first time as a member. This dress is from her inaugural year of membership.2002: Parton wore this dress for an Opry appearance supporting her 37th studio album,Halos and Horns.
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Courtesy Grand Ole Opry
From left to right:
1960s: An outfit from one of Parton’s many performances at the Opry — then located at the Ryman Auditorium —that decade. The singer often performed with Porter Wagoner.
1969: Ten years after making her debut at age 13, Parton performed on the Opry for the first time as a member. This dress is from her inaugural year of membership.
2002: Parton wore this dress for an Opry appearance supporting her 37th studio album,Halos and Horns.
03of 06Courtesy Grand Ole OpryFrom left to right:2000: Parton was ravishing in red for the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th anniversary special, which she co-hosted with Vince Gill. She wore this dress for a medley performance of Roy Acuff songs that evening.1975: To kick off the Grand Opry’s 50th anniversary special, Parton performed Acuff’s “Back in the Country” alongside fellow Opry members.1960s: A look Parton wore for one of her many appearances onThe Porter Wagoner Show, where she performed regularly as Wagoner’s “girl singer.”
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2000: Parton was ravishing in red for the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th anniversary special, which she co-hosted with Vince Gill. She wore this dress for a medley performance of Roy Acuff songs that evening.
1975: To kick off the Grand Opry’s 50th anniversary special, Parton performed Acuff’s “Back in the Country” alongside fellow Opry members.
1960s: A look Parton wore for one of her many appearances onThe Porter Wagoner Show, where she performed regularly as Wagoner’s “girl singer.”
04of 06Courtesy Grand Ole OpryFrom left to right:1988: Parton wore this outfit after bringing a taping of her variety show Dolly to Nashville, opening the episode with a performance of “Down on Music Row.“1974: Parton’s signature symbol — butterflies — was the focus of this ensemble, chosen for one of many evening Opry appearances.2000: Parton chose this sparkly number for her performance of “Coat of Many Colors” during the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th anniversary special.
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1988: Parton wore this outfit after bringing a taping of her variety show Dolly to Nashville, opening the episode with a performance of “Down on Music Row.”
1974: Parton’s signature symbol — butterflies — was the focus of this ensemble, chosen for one of many evening Opry appearances.
2000: Parton chose this sparkly number for her performance of “Coat of Many Colors” during the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th anniversary special.
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1995: This night wasSomething Special— Parton played songs from her album of the same name, before surprising the audience with Vince Gill for a duet of “I Will Always Love You.”
2010: Not so mellow yellow: at the Grand Ole Opry’s 85th anniversary celebration this night, Parton helped roll a giant cake on to the stage before leading the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” alongside Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown, Mel McDaniel and Del McCoury.
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2015: For the first of two sold-out shows at the Ryman Auditorium, Parton chose this jumpsuit — and performed without her full band for much of the night.
2017: When Reba McEntire celebrated the 40th anniversary of her Opry debut, Parton dropped in to surprise her, thrilling both McEntire and the audience.
source: people.com
