With the news of Dolly Parton’s passing weighing heavily on the hearts of country music fans everywhere, the Grand Ole Opry carried on as scheduled Tuesday evening, while making sure to honor the beloved country music icon throughout the night. Parton was a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years, making the stage an especially meaningful place to celebrate her legacy.
The show opened with Opry member Rhonda Vincent paying tribute to Parton, dedicating her first performance to the late legend with the simple message, “This is for Dolly,” before launching into Parton’s beloved classic “Coat of Many Colors.”
Vincent later returned to the Opry stage for a special medley of Parton favorites, performing “9 to 5” and “Jolene.” In between the songs, Vincent took a moment to reflect on her memories of Parton, sharing heartfelt stories about the country legend and the profound impact she had on her life and career.
The evening’s most emotional moment came when Morgan Myles, who rose to fame on the 22nd season of NBC’s The Voice, took the Opry stage to deliver a soaring rendition of Dolly Parton’s 1973 classic, “I Will Always Love You.”
Moments before her performance, Myles opened up about what Parton meant to her and revealed that she wasn’t even originally scheduled to perform at the Opry that night. Given the circumstances, however, she felt as though she was meant to be there.
“Y’all, I’ve been crying all day because we lost our lighthouse. And as a woman in country music, it doesn’t get much better. And I was supposed to sing another song tonight, but about two o’clock I found out what happened and texted the Opry and said, “Can I play I Will Always Love You? I don’t know if I’m going to do it justice, but I can’t even tell you that I don’t think there’s another artist out there that has her heart, her authenticity, her genuine kindness. And the world needs more people like that. They need more artists like that.”
She continued, reflecting on the unexpected circumstances that brought her to the Opry stage that evening.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be here this week. It happened last week that I’m a fill in this week. And there’s something tonight that feels like a God wink. And anyways, I know you know this song. I know you love Dolly because you wouldn’t love country music if you don’t love Dolly Parton. Amen. So this is my favorite song ever written on the planet. And if you want to sing with me, if you want to pray, do whatever. But I feel very honored tonight to sing this song. So I hope I get through it.”
The entire room fell silent as Myles stood alone inside the Opry circle with nothing but her guitar and delivered a stunning, heartfelt performance of the iconic song. It was a fitting tribute to Parton, an artist who paved the way for countless artists who followed in her footsteps. When Myles finished, she was met with a well-deserved standing ovation.
The Grand Ole Opry is preparing to honor Dolly Parton with a special Saturday night performance celebrating the country icon’s extraordinary life and lasting impact on the genre. The show will feature a lineup of artists paying tribute to Parton, including Carly Pearce, whose connection to the legendary singer runs deep. Pearce got her start performing at Dollywood before Parton surprised her with an invitation to join the Opry as a member in 2021.
Fans unable to attend can tune in to the special show through WSM-AM, wsmonline.com, opry.com and SiriusXM Channel 58. In another tribute to the late legend, the Grand Ole Opry marquee will remain lit in Parton’s honor through Saturday evening.
The post WATCH: Morgan Myles Brings the Grand Ole Opry to Silence With Heartbreaking Dolly Parton Tribute appeared first on Country Now.
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