Carly Pearce took the stage during the Opry 100 television event to honor longtime Opry member, Dolly Parton.

The Grand Ole Opry brought nearly 40 country artists together for a three-hour television special celebrating the institution’s centenary anniversary. The star-studded lineup included Opry members Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, and many, many more.

Performers honored members who have passed on and some who are still living and have made a profound impact on the genre. One of the night’s most anticipated performances came from Carly Pearce, who paid tribute to Dolly Parton.

Carly Pearce’s tribute performance was a full-circle moment of sorts for the artist.

Carly Pearce started her career at Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, when she was 16 years old.

In 2021, fifteen years after she first started performing at Dollywood, Carly was surprised by an invitation from Dolly to join the Grand Ole Opry. It was the first time the “Jolene” singer had done the honors of extending an invitation.

In a 2022 interview, Pearce shared that Dolly has been an inspiration for her since she was a little girl.

“She has taught me so much over the years from her kindness and the way she treats others, to her incredible songwriting and her ability to speak from the heart in all of her songs. Her impact on myself and country music as a whole is something I’ll always cherish.”

Carly Pearce performed in honor of Dolly Parton during Wednesday night’s Opry 100 special.

Carly took the stage to perform “Jolene” as a tribute to Dolly, who has long been known as a trailblazer for women in country music.

“Jolene” was written and recorded by Dolly in 1973 on the same day she wrote “I Will Always Love You.” She was inspired to write the tune by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband shortly after they were married.

The song became Dolly’s second solo No. 1 hit and has since become known as one of the greatest country songs of all time.

Watch Carly Pearce’s tribute to Dolly in the video below.

Dolly Parton’s Opry History

Dolly Parton made her Grand Ole Opry debut when she was only 13 years old. She became an official member ten years later following the release of her first full-length solo album, Just Because I’m A Woman.

She once said that she received three encores during her Opry debut after she sang George Jones’ “You Gotta Be My Baby” and was immediately hooked.

“As I heard the band play my introduction, I lifted my head and looked up toward the lights. I smiled at the people in the balcony and then let ‘er rip,” she recalled.

Prior to the 55th anniversary of her Opry membership in 2024, Dolly said,”It was always my dream to be on the Opry. They call it the ‘Mother Church’ because the old Ryman was a church, but it’s sacred to me, wherever it goes — the church of my heart. For me, the Opry is like the song “New York, New York” — if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”