WHAT WENT DOWN
The Grand Ole Opry handed a full Saturday show over to Dolly Parton's catalog after her death at 80 †. Shinedown's Brent Smith paid his own tribute in an interview posted Aug. 27, 2026 *.
THE DETAILS
- Carly Pearce opened the Nashville show with "Those Memories of You": "Dolly, we love you," †
- Kathy Mattea sang "Jolene," Molly Tuttle and Ketch Secor took "Just Someone I Used To Know," and Parton's niece Jada Star performed "The Orchard" †
- The cast closed on "9 to 5" with an unannounced Jelly Roll, then watched footage of Parton singing "I Will Always Love You" †
- Sold out, with proceeds to Parton's Imagination Library †
- Smith, who premiered "Searchlight" at the Opry in October 2025, said 270 flags flew at half-mast *
THE TAKE
The Opry says Parton debuted there in 1959, introduced by Johnny Cash at 13, and took three encores †. Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo resigned Aug. 28 over his label proceeding with a "Jolene" cover; that situation is unresolved *.
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