Dolly Parton sends message from beyond the grave for opening of new Nashville museum
Dolly Parton commemorated the opening of her new museum — just weeks after the beloved 80-year-old icon died following a secret battle with cancer.
The “Jolene” singer welcomed fans to her new Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville in a prerecorded message promoting the attraction’s grand opening Tuesday.
“Hi everybody, it’s Dolly, and I am so proud to invite you to my Life of Many Colors Museum opening right here in the heart of Nashville at my SongTeller Hotel,” Parton said in the video posted to the museum’s Instagram page.
“This museum will be the largest museum of my life and career, filled with the stories, songs, and memories that I’ve carried,” she continued.
“It includes all of the things that have helped this little girl’s dreams come true, and I can’t wait to share it with you,” she added.
Parton appeared in a gold outfit and full glam in the message, which played on a television screen.
The museum displays costumes from Parton’s decades-long career along with framed gold and platinum records, the clip showed.
Fans can reserve tickets through the museum’s website dollyslifeofmanycolors.com.
Visitors who attended the opening shared their reactions on Instagram.
“We were blessed and honored to be at the grand opening today. It is Museum Perfection, every sparkly detail, every well thought out placement, arrangement bringing her decades of success, sparkle and shine for all the world to see,” one person wrote.
“I went today and I have been telling everyone how fantastic this museum is! The staff was so welcoming and knowledgeable and I could not stop smiling. Highly recommend,” another added.
“Working beyond the grave. Such a hardworking woman and amicable too,” a third commenter wrote.
Parton died Aug. 25 after a private battle with cancer.
She already made another posthumous appearance earlier this month when she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Music Awards through a prerecorded message.
The country singer was also honored at Sunday’s MTV VMAs, where Kacey Musgraves performed “I Will Always Love You” as part of a tribute.
Taylor Swift also gave Parton a shoutout while accepting her video of the year award for “Fate of Ophelia.”
“Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich. Listening to her songs, it’s like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she’s written,” Swift said.
Meanwhile, Parton’s family has become embroiled in a dispute over her estate.
Her nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver, has threatened to “destroy her entire brand” in alleged texts, according to court docs filed by Parton’s management company last week.
Seaver was later hit with a restraining order from Parton’s manager, Danny Nozell, after reportedly being fired from his longtime security position.