Even among living legends, Dolly Parton’s star shines with unusual brilliance. Her fame casts a wider, brighter light today than at any time in her career of sixty-plus years. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has enjoyed seemingly effortless success as a singer, songwriter, movie and television actor, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist ever since she first hit the record charts in 1967. In truth, however, her achievements required determination to get past those who tried to limit the scale of her dreams.
This exhibition focuses on turning points in Parton’s life and career through the decades, where she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities across the world.
Access to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit is included with Museum admission. A limited number of timed tickets for the exhibit are available each day. Advance reservations are encouraged.
Photo © Jim Herrington
Family Program–Songteller: Songwriting 101
Saturday, June 28 | 1:00 –2:00 PM | Taylor Swift Education Center
Dolly Parton is a prolific singer-songwriter. Her hit song “I Will Always Love You” is an iconic declaration of wishing someone the best. If you could write an inspirational song to uplift others, what would you say? Join singer-songwriter and music educator Kayley Nell Walker—who has performed original music on NBC’s Today, at the Bluebird Café, and at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge’s annual Birthday Bash—in this introductory workshop inspired by Parton’s career. Participants will learn the fundamentals of songwriting—including form, theme, and rhyme scheme—then share ideas and write an original song as a group.
Panel Discussion–Star of the Show: My Life on Stage
Sunday, December 7 | 3:00 – 4:30 PM | Ford Theater
In celebration of the November release of Dolly Parton’s book Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, the Museum will host a panel discussion focused on Parton’s touring success. Panelists will include author and historian Robert K. Oermann and Tom Roland, a journalist and the editor of Star of the Show. Offered in support of the exhibition Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker.
Program tickets will be available to reserve on October 23 at 10 a.m. central.
Panel Discussion–Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones
Saturday, January 17 | 3:00 – 4:30 PM | Ford Theater
In celebration of Dolly Parton’s eightieth birthday (January 19), the Museum will present a panel discussion highlighting her book Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. Panelists will include Holly George-Warren, a fashion writer and one of Parton’s Behind the Seams co-authors; Rebecca Seaver, director of museum and archive services for Dolly Parton Productions and another Behind the Seams co-author; and Steve Summers, longtime costumer and creative director for Dolly Parton Enterprises.
Program tickets will be available to reserve on October 23 at 10 a.m. central.
Dolly Parton Exhibit Highlights
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Awards Program, Invitation, and Place Cards
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Dolly Parton was invited to attend the annual Country Awards ceremony by performance rights organization BMI, held at Nashville’s Belle Meade Country Club in 1966.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Banjo
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Dolly Parton used this custom-built Gibson five-string banjo at performances in 1992 and on her Halos & Horns Tour in 2002. Custom features include a white metallic finish, rhinestone embellishments, and butterfly motifs on the fingerboard, headstock, and rim.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Show Poster
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Dolly Parton and her Traveling Family Band performed in Spartanburg, South Carolina, November 2, 1975. She formed the group after parting ways with Porter Wagoner in 1974. The band included her sisters Rachel and Frieda, her brothers Floyd and Randy, and her uncles and cousins,. This is a restrike of a Hatch Show Print poster promoting that appearance.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Boots
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Dolly Parton wore these hand-painted, beaded boots, designed by Bambi Breakstone, at the photoshoot by acclaimed portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz for Parton’s 2002 album, Halos & Horns.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Song Manuscript
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This is an early draft of handwritten lyrics by Dolly Parton to her classic song and #1 country hit “Jolene.”
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Magazine Cover
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This issue of People was published in 1977, as Dolly Parton was beginning to look beyond country music for broader acceptance as a pop artist.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Guitar
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Dolly Parton played this Mitchell custom electric guitar at her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2022.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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First Record
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This 45-rpm disc was Dolly Parton’s first record, recorded when she was thirteen. Released on the Louisiana-based Goldband label in 1959, “Puppy Love” was written by Parton at age eleven. Because she was too young to sign a publishing contract, the song was credited to her uncle Bill Owens. The playful, rockabilly-flavored single received limited airplay but did not chart.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Shoes
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Dolly Parton wore these Andreas-designed, rhinestone-covered platform mules at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, February 10, 2019. The ceremony included a tribute to Parton, in which Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and Katy Perry performed a medley of her songs. Dolly joined them onstage to sing “Jolene” with Cyrus.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Magazine Cover
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Dolly Parton’s emergence as a successful crossover artist and TV and movie star was examined in this 1980 issue of Rolling Stone.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Tape Recorder
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Dolly Parton used this Sony portable cassette tape recorder when she wrote “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “The Seeker.”
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Outfit
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Dolly Parton wore this cowgirl outfit, made by the Western Costume Co., in scenes in the 1980 Hollywood film 9 to 5.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Medallion
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To honor her lifetime of contributions to American culture, Dolly Parton was presented with this Kennedy Center Honors medallion in 2006.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this Tony Chase–designed lace dress, embellished with pearl beading, when she performed the R&B classic “I’m a Hog for You Baby” as a duet with the Muppets character Miss Piggy on an episode of Parton’s ABC-TV variety series Dolly! in 1987.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this Lucy Adams–designed dress, with lace sleeves and skirt, and a butterfly-shaped rhinestone design, at appearances on The Porter Wagoner Show and the cover of the 1974 album Porter ’n’ Dolly.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Guitar
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This Gibson L-30 archtop acoustic guitar, built around 1935, was played by Dolly Parton in the 1991 music video for “Silver and Gold,” from her album Eagle When She Flies. The instrument was a gift from her brother Floyd Parton.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this dress, with balloon sleeves, chiffon skirt, bugle beading, and rhinestone accents at a 1978 photoshoot by celebrity photographer Harry Langdon Jr. The likeness of her on the Dolly Parton–themed pinball machine, made by Bally in 1979, was based on one of Langdon’s photos of her in this dress.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this Steve Summers–designed metallic dress, with mesh fabric, spikes, and beaded fringe, in photos promoting her singles “World on Fire” and “We are the Champions/We Will Rock You,” from her 2023 album, Rockstar.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this Robért Behar–designed, velvet-and-chiffon dress—embroidered with rhinestones and bugle beading in floral shapes—when she attended the 29th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Dinner at the U.S State Department, Washington, D.C., December 2, 2006..
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Dress
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Dolly Parton wore this sheer overlay—decorated with hand-painted, sequined floral details—and this sequin-covered shoulder piece and matching belt at her concert at Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 1979, and her appearance on NBC-TV’s The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, September 19, 1979.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Outfit
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Designed for Dolly Parton by Lucy Adams, this pantsuit with bell sleeves, bell bottoms, and rhinestone-and-bead embellished floral shapes was worn by Parton when she toured with her Traveling Family Band in 1975, and on the cover of Dolly, her 1975 album also known as The Seeker/We Used To.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Your One Stop Dolly Shop
Find coats of many colors from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM at The Museum Store—and anytime online!
Frequently Asked Questions
Visitors who purchase a timed entry ticket to the Museum must reserve a separate ticket for access to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit, which is offered at no additional cost and based on availability. To ensure optimal guest experience, a limited number of tickets to the exhibit and the Museum are available each day between 9 AM and 3:30 PM Central. Visitors are highly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Click here to view ticket availability.
Upon entering the Museum galleries, visitors with Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker tickets visit this exhibit first before accessing other areas of the galleries. A timed ticket to the Museum, plus a ticket to Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker, is required for exhibit entry. The exhibit is part of an estimated 90-minute self-guided tour of the Museum’s galleries. The Museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM Central. No reentry.
No. The exhibit is included with general Museum admission. However, a separate ticket will need to be reserved for the exhibit when purchasing general admission to the Museum. Advanced reservations are highly recommended due to limited capacity each day in the exhibit and Museum.
Yes. Visitors wishing to see Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker are highly encouraged to reserve Museum and exhibit tickets in advance. Timed tickets are available for Museum and exhibit entry between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with a limited number of tickets available each day. The Museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. See ticket availability here.
All Museum tickets are date and time specific and sold in 15-minute time intervals to ensure a positive experience for visitors in the galleries. Please plan to arrive on time. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Nashville. We encourage visitors to plan extra time to drive, rideshare, park, or walk.
When reserving tickets online, if the date or time that you are hoping to visit is not an option, that time slot is sold out. Please choose another available option.
The Museum will automatically add the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker admission ticket to your reservation, when possible, if you booked prior to the April 9 exhibition announcement. A confirmation email will be sent by April 11. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please email us at reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org or call 615-416-2001 during business hours between 9 AM and 5 PM Central.
If you are a Museum member, please log-in to your account, and click “Reserve Tickets.”
Tickets are offered based on Museum capacity and availability and cannot be guaranteed. Tickets are non-transferable, and identification may be required.
Additionally, the Museum is opening early and staying open late to ensure convenient and exclusive access to the exhibit for Museum members. Extended hours are available on June 12 and 14. Check your email for details or contact Membership@CountryMusicHallofFame.org with questions.
We cannot guarantee entry outside of your ticketed time. If you miss your ticketed time, we will do our best to reschedule, pending availability. Tickets and proof of purchase are required for rescheduling. For assistance, please email us at reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org or call 615-416-2001 during business hours between 9 AM and 5 PM Central.
Please email us at reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org or call 615-416-2001 during business hours between 9 AM and 5 PM Central.
Date and time reservations are required for these tickets and are subject to availability. Please email us at reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org for assistance or call 615-416-2001 during business hours between 9 AM and 5 PM Central. Advanced reservations are highly recommended as day-of availability is not guaranteed.
Resold, transferred, and/or tickets not purchased from the Museum or one of our third-party travel sites may not be valid. If there is an issue with your ticket, you may be required to show proof of purchase or to contact at the point of purchase.
The Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit opens May 20, 2025, and runs through September 2026.
Guest movement through the Museum and this exhibit may be monitored by Museum staff to maintain equitable access for all. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.
Your tickets are good for the date and time selected. There is no reentry into the Museum or the exhibition.
Yes. The Museum’s Sing Me Back Home exhibition showcases foundational artifacts that span the 100-year narrative of country music history. These artifacts are rotated on a regular basis. Currently on display is a Lucy Adams-designed, rhinestone-embellished dress that Parton wore on The Porter Wagoner Show (c. 1970) and the CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year that she received with Wagoner in 1968. Parton’s Country Music Hall of Fame member plaque is also on display in the Museum’s Hall of Fame Rotunda.
An additional display that celebrates Parton’s community of literacy, created through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, will be presented in the museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center. The display will include the custom-designed, multi-colored patchwork blouse Parton wore when visiting the Wilmington Public Library in Wilmington Delaware in May 2022, to celebrate statewide coverage of her Imagination Library program.
Yes, the Museum offers discounts on Adult General Admission tickets to Students, Teachers, Seniors (60+), and Military/Veterans, with valid identification. Please call the Museum at 615-416-2001 to book in advance.
Youth ages 18 and under living in Nashville-Davidson County and its bordering counties — Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson — are always free at the Museum with proof of residency. Please note, if you reserve through Local Kids Visit Free or check out a Community Counts Passport, you’ll need to call the Museum at 615-416-2001 to add on Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit tickets.
Call us seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central at 615-416-2001, or email us at reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org. More answers to commonly asked questions about visiting the Museum are here.
DOLLY PARTON EXCLUSIVE PLAYLIST
Plan your visit to see Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker and explore turning points in her musical career in this official playlist.