Dolly Parton’s new Nashville hotel and museum are scheduled to open this fall, giving fans another place to explore her music and life story following her death.
Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at age 80. Her representatives told People that she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center after a brief battle with cancer. She had previously canceled several appearances due to health issues.
Just weeks before her death, Parton appeared in a social media video encouraging fans to reserve tickets for the new Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum. The attraction will occupy the entire third floor of her new SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville.
The museum spans more than 20,000 square feet and is billed as the largest exhibition devoted to Parton’s life anywhere in the world. The hotel has 245 rooms and suites, live music venues and several dining options for fans.
Parton Promoted the Museum Shortly Before Her Death
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In the video, Parton described her journey from a childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international fame. She invited visitors to explore the stories, memories and different stages of her life inside the new museum.
Four days before her death, Parton also discussed the museum and hotel during an interview with People. She shared that she was dealing with health problems but said she remained focused on seeing her projects come to life.
She said in the interview, “I am so proud of this. We found this location early one morning. I knew I wanted to do something special in Nashville, and until I saw this building, nothing ever hit me as the right thing to do. I saw a copy of my book Songteller in the lobby of what once was this office building. After touring it and seeing the location, I knew this was it. I wanted to join all my Nashville friends downtown, but I didn’t just want it to be another bar. So we found a way to bring in my museum on the third floor and make it really special.”
Exhibits Include Costumes, Lyrics and Even a Tour Bus
The museum’s Hall of Fame will display awards, photographs, clothing, and more from Parton’s later career. A separate wardrobe gallery will cover seven decades of rhinestone-covered costumes and changing fashion for those interested in her clothing.
Visitors can also enter Dolly’s Writing Room to learn about her songwriting process. Other planned areas include a replica tour bus, exhibits on her film and television work, and a section devoted to the Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide.
Museum Tickets Do Not Require a Hotel Stay
If you’re interested in visiting the new museum, you don’t have to stay at the hotel to experience it. The museum has a separate entrance at 126 Third Avenue North and will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with most self-guided visits taking 60 to 90 minutes. Children ages 5 and younger enter free with a paid adult, while discounted tickets are available for ages 6 to 12.
The museum’s visitor guide says tickets are available for visits beginning Sept. 29, although the exact grand-opening date has not been announced yet.