There’s no Nashville icon quite like Dolly Parton. When visiting Music City, you’ll see her image everywhere, from the picture-perfect Dolly Parton-themed bar, White Limozeen, to a colorful mural featuring the superstar in East Nashville. You can also take a day trip to Dollywood, one of the best theme parks in the country, located a few hours outside of the city. This all makes sense since, while Parton grew up in Sevierville, Tennessee, she moved to Nashville the day after she graduated high school to begin her legendary music career.
Parton now lives in Brentwood, one of Tennessee’s wealthiest cities, but Nashville will always be a significant part of her story. In fact, she’s set to open Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel as well as Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville in summer 2026. Luckily for fans looking for travel inspiration, Parton has shared some of her favorite spots in Nashville, five of which we’ve selected to spotlight in this article.
The Grand Ole Opry House
Often referred to as “country music’s biggest stage,” the Grand Ole Opry has been showcasing country music talent since 1925, first as a radio show and then as a live performance showcase. Parton first sang at the Grand Ole Opry at the age of ten and officially became a member in the late 1960s. While the show has been held in six locations over the course of its history, the Grand Ole Opry House was built specifically to house it in 1974. As Parton told Air Mail, she has performed at the Grand Ole Opry House “many times throughout my career.” She added, “When I celebrated my 50th year as a member of the Opry in 2019, we filmed the television special on that magical stage.”
Visitors to the Grand Ole Opry House can take a tour of the venue (priced from $45 to $59.81 at the time of writing, depending on the specific tour) or watch a live performance. Ticket prices for shows vary, but SeatGeek lists the low-$70 range as a typical starting point. We were able to find some select tickets as low as $35, though.
The Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. It remains a concert venue today, hosting performers from a variety of genres and eras. “I was on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium when I was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969,” Parton told Air Mail. “Since then, I’ve performed many times at the Ryman, whether it be for television specials or for my own concerts.”…