What This Story Is About
- Music City is celebrating Dolly Day on September 25. WSMV4 has rounded up everything you need to know to participate in the holiday honoring the Queen of Country.
Why It Matters
- Dolly Parton, Tennessee’s favorite daughter, died in August at the age of 80. She was one of the most influential Tennesseans in history.
What Happens Next
- Mayor Freddie O’Connell encouraged residents to wear pink and donate to local causes on Sept. 25. Organizations across the city and Midstate will celebrate with events, discounts, food and fun.
For Context
- The date, 9/25, is a reference to Parton’s hit song and movie, “9 to 5.”
Catch Up
- Nashville to celebrate first ‘Dolly Day’ on 9/25 with music, giving and fireworks. Here’s what to know
- Remembering Dolly Parton: 1946 – 2026
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Metro Nashville is honoring the late Queen of Country on September 25, which has been officially declared Dolly Day.
How is Metro Nashville celebrating Dolly Day?
The date is a play on her famous song “9 to 5,” and it’s meant to celebrate and remember her. Mayor Freddie O’Connell encouraged residents to wear pink and donate to local causes.
At 5 p.m., participating music venues will play live performances of “9 to 5” across the city. Some businesses will have Dolly-themed food and drink deals. And the Musicians Hall of Fame is donating $9.25 from each admission to the Imagination Library in honor of the holiday.
The celebration will close with fireworks in downtown Nashville starting at 9:25 p.m.
WSMV4 has rounded up a list of celebrations across the city. See the details below.
What events are happening in Nashville for Dolly Day?
Here’s a list of Dolly Day events across Nashville, with details from event organizers:
- Dolly Day at Centennial Park: Centennial Park Conservancy and Metro Parks are joining in the fun with a day of music, treats and giving back. Click here for details.
- Dolly Day at Garth Brooks’ and Trisha Yearwood’s Broadway bar: Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk will donate its entire income for the day to children’s literacy. The couple plans to make “Dolly Day” an annual event at FILP. Click here for details.
- Dolly Day at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: The museum will celebrate “Dolly Parton Day” with a free screening of “9 to 5.” Additional Dolly-inspired activities include a screening of Parton footage from the museum’s Frist Library and Archive at 6 p.m. and a “9 to 5”-themed photo opportunity and butterfly coloring station from 4 to 7 p.m. Click here for more details.
- Dolly Day at the Nashville Zoo: Join us Friday, September 25 for Dolly Day at the Zoo, as we honor the life and legacy of Nashville icon Dolly Parton with discounted admission, themed animal enrichment, a Dolly-inspired menu and more. Click here for more details.
- Dolly Day on Broadway: TC Restaurant Group will celebrate Dolly Day across Nashville venues with specialty cocktails, music, donations, and more in honor of Dolly Parton. Venues include: Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up, Posty’s Bar and Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen.
- Dolly Day at Metro Nashville Public Libraries: The Nashville Public Library wants everyone to wear pink, spread kindness and honor dolly parton’s love for books. And you can help them honor her with a limited edition ‘imagination library’ card, available exclusively on Dolly Day. Click here for more details.
- Dolly Day at Cheekwood: We’re honoring Dolly Parton with $9.25 adult admission from 9 to 5 p.m.! Click here for more details.
- Dolly Day at BNA: Passengers, employees and visitors can join the celebration throughout the day with special activities across BNA from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including live performances featuring Dolly Parton songs, Dolly-themed karaoke and airport parking garages being lit up pink. Click here for more details.
Other Dolly Day events in Middle Tennessee:
- Dolly Day at Watkins Park Library: We’ll have Dolly-inspired fun throughout the day, including story time, crafts, a photo booth, dance party, movie, sing-along, refreshments, and more! Click here for more details.
- MTSU Honors Bell Tower plays Dolly Parton: Honors faculty member and Master Instructor in MTSU’s School of Music Angela Tipps will perform Dolly Parton’s classic “9 to 5,” with the music playing through the Honors Bell Tower at 11:35 a.m. Click here for more details.
- City of Brentwood celebrates Dolly Day: The city will honor Parton’s legacy with a free screening of her popular 1989 film, “Steel Magnolias,” at Crockett Park at 8 p.m. Click here for more details.
What are other tributes to Dolly Parton in Nashville?
BNA to be renamed in honor of Dolly Parton
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted 6-0 this month to begin the process of modifying Nashville International Airport’s name in honor of Dolly Parton.
The authority said a final name has not yet been determined and that it will work with appropriate parties to decide how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.
The decision begins a multifaceted process, with airport officials expecting to share more specific plans in the coming months.
Dolly Parton honored with memorial bench at Nashville’s Centennial Park
A bench at Centennial Park now carries a “lasting tribute” to the late country legend and one of Tennessee’s most beloved icons.
Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy have dedicated a bench near the Sunken Garden in memory of Dolly Parton.
The bench celebrates her and her “connection to the park, her contributions to the Nashville community and her lifelong commitment to inspiring children to read, dream and imagine.”
Nashville selected as 1 of 2 cities in the world to host DOLLYFEST in honor of late Queen of Country
Dolly Parton’s estate is planning a music festival to honor the late Queen of Country Music.
Nashville has been selected as one of two cities in the world to host DOLLYFEST next year. The other location will be London, England, and the festivals will take place across “two consecutive weekends” in 2027.
“What was originally planned as a multi-artist event for January 2026 in Nashville and intended to feature Parton as performer and host, will now morph into a global double-day, double-weekend, double-continent party of a lifetime,” a press release on the event said.
Grand Ole Opry honors Dolly Parton with sold-out tribute show
The Grand Ole Opry hosted a sold-out, standing-room-only show to honor Dolly Parton.
Every artist who took the stage during the show had a tie to Parton.
Carly Pearce, who was invited to become an Opry member by Parton herself five years ago, was among the performers. Other artists included T. Graham Brown, Channing Wilson, Belle Frantz, Kathy Mattea, Molly Tuttle, Opry Square Dancers and Dan Tyminski.
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