How Grand Ole Opry is honoring Dolly Parton after her death

The Grand Ole Opry is dedicating all of Saturday night’s show to Dolly Parton after her tragic death, Page Six can confirm.

The show will honor Parton’s life, legacy and contribution to country music, with Carly Pearce among the artists set to perform, the icon Nashville-based country music venue shared in a press release to Page Six.

Pearce, 36, began her career at Dollywood and was surprised by Parton with an invitation to became an official Opry member in 2021.

Parton, who died at age 80 on Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer, last performed at the Opry in October 2019.

Tuesday night’s show at the Opry included a tribute to Parton, with Rhonda Vincent telling the crowd, “This is for Dolly,” before performing Parton’s 1971 song “Coat of Many Colors,” followed by “9 to 5” and “Jolene.”

Morgan Myles came out on stage as well to perform Parton’s 1973 classic “I Will Always Love You.”

The Opry honored Parton on Instagram, noting she left a “mark on the world” that “will be deeply felt for generations to come.”

“She taught us to always lead with kindness, generosity, and compassion,” the tribute read. “May her legacy live on through her songs, the lives she touched, and the countless artists she inspired. There will never, ever be another one like her.”

The latest news on music icon Dolly Parton’s death at 80

Before her death, Parton acted as a mentor to Pearce, who mourned the legendary singer on social media on Tuesday.

“I’ve said often in my life, ‘What will the world be without Dolly?’ From the time I was a little girl, I wanted to be just like her,” Pearce wrote on X. “At 15 years old, my family uprooted their lives so I could start chasing my dreams, working in the country show at Dollywood.”

Pearce called it “a privilege” that she got to know and work with Parton, whom she described as “kind, funny, gracious, and one of a kind.”

“Heaven got a whole lot sassier, funnier, and brighter today,” the Grammy winner continued. “I will do my part as a woman in country music to continue carrying the light she shined so brightly for all of us.”

Parton dealt with health issues before her death, which forced her to skip her 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry in January.

At the time, Parton reflected on having fond moments with the Opry in a pre-recorded video shared on the country music establishment’s Instagram page.

“Some of my favorite memories happened right here on stage at the Grand Ole Opry,” she said, adding, “And I wish I could be there in person but I’ll be sending you all my love, for sure.”

She ended her message by telling her fans to “have the best night ever.”

Parton opened up about her health issues in her final interview before her death.

She told People on Friday that she had been “dealing with health issues that [she] just didn’t pay attention to when [she] was watching over Carl,” referring to her late husband, Carl Dean, who died at age 82 in March 2025.

“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” she said.

Parton’s reps later confirmed in a statement to Page Six that she was secretly battling cancer, though they didn’t reveal what kind.

Her team also confirmed Parton was “surrounded by loved ones” when she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.