Dolly Parton dazzles sold out Ryman Auditorium

Who says you can’t go home again? Dolly Parton did during Friday’s “Dolly: Pure and Simple” show, a benefit for the Dustin J. Wells Foundation, which helps fund education programs at the W.O. Smith School of Music and the first of her two sold-out nights at the Ryman Auditorium this weekend.

The country music superstar first played the “Mother Church of Country Music” as a young girl, and in January of 1969, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Almost before she sang a single note, Parton explained how proud she was to be standing once more on “sacred ground,” explaining “I loved this old building from the beginning.”

For an hour and 40 minutes, Parton delivered stripped-down, acoustic versions of her biggest hits with boundless energy and irrepressible humor, all while strumming a variety of bedazzled musical instruments—which were coordinated to match her impeccable white, sparkly jumpsuit.

The crowd was spellbound as Parton sang “Coat of Many Colors” and the wrenching “Little Sparrow” (which Parton and her small backing band performed nearly entirely a cappella) and laughed when Parton launched into some of her famous one-liners and sillier tunes like “PMS Blues,” which might be the only country music song to include lyrics about fluid retention.

Near the end of her set, Parton got the audience to their feet to sing along to two of her most infectious hits, “Islands in the Stream” and “9 to 5,” before flooring them with the evening’s final song, a stirring rendition of “I Will Always Love You” that drew a standing ovation as Parton exited. This show was her first full Nashville concert in more than a decade, and a legend's welcome return to one of music's most revered stages.