Dolly Parton’s Life of Many Colors Museum opened its doors Tuesday in Nashville at the SongTeller Hotel, and the first fans inside got something nobody expected: a prerecorded welcome from Dolly herself. In the message, played on a television screen, she said she was proud to invite everyone to the museum and called it the largest of her life and career, filled with the stories, songs, and memories she carried with her.
The museum walks visitors through decades of Dolly’s world, from her iconic costumes to framed gold and platinum records. It arrives just weeks after her death on Aug. 25 at age 80, following a private cancer battle, and caps a stretch of posthumous honors that included an appearance at the Americana Music Awards and an MTV VMAs tribute from Kacey Musgraves, with Taylor Swift also praising her on the show. Her family, meanwhile, is involved in an estate dispute, so the celebration comes with some complicated legal drama in the background.
Tickets for the museum are available at dollyslifeofmanycolors.com. Whether you grew up on her music or discovered her through a parent’s playlist, this is a chance to stand inside the world she built. What’s the one Dolly Parton song that instantly takes you back? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.