Dolly Parton honoured with emotional night at Grand Ole Opry as country stars and her niece pay tribute

COUNTRY music honoured Dolly Parton at one of its most hallowed venues after her death this week. The country music icon died on Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer and just days after her death, a concert was held in her honour at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Some of country music’s biggest names honoured Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry Credit: Getty Dolly died from cancer on Tuesday Credit: Getty Many performers took to the stage, including Dolly’s niece Jada Star who sang The Orchard, which she has recorded with her famous aunt on her 2024 album, Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables. “Thank you. I love you, cousins. We’re all going to be alright. I promise,” Jada said after performance. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Others to take to the stage during Saturday’s tribute show included Carly Pearce, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, Molly Tuttle and Channing Wilson. Modern country superstar Jelly Roll made a surprise appearance during the last song of the night which was a rendition of Dolly’s hit 9 to 5 and saw all the performers take to the stage. Dolly’s niece Jada Star lead the tributes to her famous aunt Credit: Reuters Kathy Mattea also performed Credit: Reuters Carly Pearce sand at the tribute show Credit: Reuters The show closed with a video of Dolly giving an emotional performance of her song, I Will Always Love You, which was later covered by Whitney Houston for the bodyguard soundtrack and became an international hit. The Grand Ole Opry is considered to be one of the biggest stages for country music and is located in the genre’s spiritual home of Nashville, Tennessee at the Ryman Auditorium. Dolly first performed at the Opry when he was just 13 years old, and received three encores. “For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York,” Dolly had once said, per the Opry’s website. “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” Most read in Showbiz On Friday, the singer’s relatives gathered at the country music legend’s final resting place at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. The star is to be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Carl Dean. In photos per Page Six, the couple’s tomb features a beautiful bronze front with a peaceful mountain landscape inspired by their native Tennessee. Dolly’s name has already been added alongside her husband’s following her death. Dolly was married to Carl for 58 years and was buried there after he died last March at age 82. Her family previously announced that the star wanted an intimate farewell attended only by those closest to her. “Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at http://www.dollyparton.com,” they said. After the news of her passing, US President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff to honour “one of the greatest country singers.” Fans also gathered to remember Dolly at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, leaving behind flowers, a bracelet, red lipstick and a box of her sugar cookie mix from her collection with Duncan Hines. She was further honored in the UK where the King’s Guard played 9-5 outside of Buckingham Palace. Comment now