Photos: Dolly Parton's Dazzling Wardrobe Pieces, More Will Be On Display

Dolly Parton’s life and legendary career will take the spotlight in a new exhibit opening next month at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit will include some of Parton’s handwritten lyrics, iconic wardrobe pieces, custom-made instruments Parton has played on stage, and more. Museum goers will also see some of the globally-beloved icons awards she’s earned throughout her six-decade career, photos and exclusive interview footage, per a press release issued by the Country Music Hall of Fame on Wednesday (April 9). The exhibit will make its debut on May 20, and will run through September 2026.

“Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame was one of the greatest moments of my life, and being able to have a personal exhibit for the fans that put me there is a very big deal to me,” Parton said in a statement. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 (and into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022). “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.”

Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, added that Parton has accomplished “enough for three lifetimes,” and sh “continues to astound and amaze us with her boundless talent, her vivacious wit and her tremendous generosity. Like all great artists, Parton has demonstrated consistently that she can transform adversity and setbacks into works of stunning beauty and insight into the human condition.”

Parton, 79, spent her childhood growing up in a large family — she was fourth of 12 children — in East Tennessee. The Country Music Hall of Fame notes that Parton’s remote, Smoky Mountains cabin that she grew up in didn’t have plumbing, electricity or access to nearby roads. Parton was always passionate about music, and moved to Nashville when she was 16 to pursue her career. She recently shared she met her husband, Carl Dean, on her first day living in Nashville. The couple remained together ever since, and were married nearly 60 years. Dean died earlier this year. He was 82.

Parton has since become known for her timeless music — including iconic hits “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and many more — her acting, her fashion, her businesses, her philanthropy and more. Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker will spotlight moments throughout Parton’s life, including her Grand Ole Opry debut at age 13, monumental decisions made throughout her career, founding her Imagination Library and more. The Journey of a Seeker exhibit will also have a companion book, which will be available May 20. Here are some of the items that will be on display, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum release:

• Parton’s first draft of handwritten lyrics to her classic song and #1 country hit “Jolene."
• A custom-built Gibson five-string banjo with a white metallic finish, rhinestone embellishments and butterfly motifs used by Parton at performances in 1992 and on her “Halos & Horns Tour” in 2002.
• A Sony portable cassette tape recorder Parton used when she wrote the songs "I Will Always Love You," "Jolene" and "The Seeker."
• A cowgirl outfit Parton wore in scenes in the 1980 Hollywood film “9 to 5.”
• Hand-painted and beaded boots, designed by Bambi Breakstone, which Parton wore at the photoshoot for her 2002 album, Halos & Horns.
• The Kennedy Center Honors medallion Parton was presented with in 2006 to honor her lifetime of contributions to American culture.
• A Tony Chase-designed lace dress, embellished with pearl beading, Parton wore 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.
• A Lucy Adams-designed dress, with lace sleeves and skirt and a butterfly-shaped rhinestone design, which Parton wore at appearances on “The Porter Wagoner Show” and the cover of the 1974 album Porter ’n’ Dolly.
• The Gibson L-30 archtop acoustic guitar, built around 1935 — given to Parton as a gift from her brother Floyd Parton — which she played in the 1991 music video for “Silver and Gold,” from her album Eagle When She Flies.
• The dress, with balloon sleeves, chiffon skirt, bugle beading and rhinestone accents Parton wore at a 1978 photoshoot by celebrity photographer Harry Langdon Jr. The likeness of her on a Dolly Parton-themed pinball machine, made by Bally in 1979, was based on one of Langdon’s photos of her in this dress.
• A Steve Summers-designed metallic dress, with mesh fabric, spikes and beaded fringe, was worn by Parton in photos promoting her singles “World on Fire” and "We are the Champions/We Will Rock You," from her 2023 album, Rockstar.
• The Andreas-designed, rhinestone-covered platform mules Parton wore at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 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. Parton joined them onstage to sing “Jolene” with Cyrus.
• Designed for Parton by Lucy Adams, a pantsuit with bell sleeves, bell bottoms and rhinestone-and-bead embellished floral shapes, 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.