Jada Star opened a special Grand Ole Opry tribute concert in Nashville to honor her late aunt Dolly Parton, following the country music icon's death.
The historic country music institution dedicated its performance on Saturday, August 29, to Parton, who died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80 after a short battle with cancer, as confirmed by her team to People magazine.
Family Tribute at Nashville's Opry
Star opened the live show with a performance of The Orchard, a track she recorded alongside Parton for the 2024 album Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables. The song addresses family legacy and past generations, reflecting on the loss of older leaves and the continuation of life through new trees on the family tree.
As the audience applauded her performance, Star addressed the crowd to thank them, express her affection for her family, and assure listeners that everyone would be okay.
All-Star Lineup Celebrates Parton's Legacy
The commemorative lineup featured performances by Carly Pearce, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, Molly Tuttle, Channing Wilson, and Belle Frantz, who made her debut appearance at the Grand Ole Opry during the event.
The musicians closed the show with a joint performance of Parton's signature hit 9 to 5, joined on stage by singer Jelly Roll in an unannounced surprise appearance.
Earlier that day, Star had announced her upcoming performance on Facebook, sharing that organizers had invited her to perform her song as part of the tribute. She described herself to fans as wandering through a fog of grief alongside her listeners.
Musical Roots and Family History
Star is the daughter of Parton's sister, Freida. Parton was one of 12 siblings in her family. Following her aunt's path into country music, Star released her debut album, Long Way Home, in 2018 in collaboration with her friend Barry J.
Following the public announcement of Parton's death on Tuesday, August 25, Star posted a message on Instagram stating that she would temporarily step away from social media.
In her message, Star explained that her family was working to manage the loss and grieving together with the public. She thanked fans for their support, noted she would take about a week away from the internet while reading incoming messages, and emphasized that her family needed time to grieve together.
