Legendary singer Dolly Parton holds a lot of titles- songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author.. but the one title she says she holds above all is “seeker.”
That’s why she says she loves that the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum titled its newly opened exhibit about her “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker.”
In a new interview with Dolly posted on the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Instagram account, Dolly says, “Well, I love the title that you’re calling this here at the Hall of Fame. Cuz I have always been a seeker. In every way. My spiritual life, my professional life, my personal life. I’m always looking. I’m always trying to find another mountain to climb.”
Dolly Explains How She Wrote Her Song ‘The Seeker’
Dolly explained her song “The Seeker,” saying, “I remember when I wrote ‘The Seeker,’ I had been out, I was young and I had been out on the road with Porter and them, and just seeing how crazy wild the world is.
And if you don’t keep yourself self-contained, it’s easy to fall into places like a lot of people do with drugs and alcohol or any number of things. And I really leaned heavy on my faith and I remember just feeling guilty because I wasn’t staying as close to my spiritual roots, you know, as I felt I should have. So I remember I was at mine and Carl’s first house over in Antioch, Tennessee.
And I just remember being in the kitchen and I was just thinking so many thoughts. And I thought ‘Lord, You need to help me. You know, cuz I’m just a seeker. Just a poor, sinful creature and there’s no one weaker than I am. I’m a seeker. But You’re a teacher. And You’re a reacher. So reach down. Just reach out and lead me. Guide me and keep me in the comfort of your love each day. Cuz I’m a seeker, but you’re a keeper. So all of my life I’ve considered myself a seeker. And I think all of us are.”
‘Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker’ Just Debuted
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibit “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker” just opened on May 20.
The exhibit walks fans of the legendary singer-songwriter through more than six decades of Dolly’s extraordinary career. From her humble beginnings in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Dolly Rebecca Parton grew up as the fourth of 12 children in a one-room cabin in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains… all the way through her rise to become one of the most beloved superstars in the world.
And while you might think the inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame would be jaded by all the honors by now, think again.
“Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame was one of the greatest moments of my life, and being able to have a personal exhibit for the fans that put me there is a very big deal to me,” Parton said in a statement. “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.”
Dolly’s Seeker Exhibit is About Much More Than Just Music
But the exhibit focuses on a lot more than the prolific singer-songwriter’s music.
In a post on its Instagram account, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum says the Dolly Parton exhibit highlights all things Dolly, writing, “Even among living legends, @DollyParton’s star shines with unusual brilliance. Her fame casts a wider, brighter light today than at any time in her career of sixty-plus years. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has enjoyed seemingly effortless success as a singer, songwriter, movie and television actor, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist ever since she first hit the record charts in 1967. In truth, however, her achievements required determination to get past those who tried to limit the scale of her dreams.
The post says the exhibition shines a spotlight on “turning points in Parton’s life and career through the decades, where she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities across the world.”
In a press release, Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said, “After accomplishing enough for three lifetimes, Dolly Parton continues to astound and amaze us with her boundless talent, her vivacious wit and her tremendous generosity. Like all great artists, Parton has demonstrated consistently that she can transform adversity and setbacks into works of stunning beauty and insight into the human condition.”
How to See ‘Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker’
“Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker” is open now at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. It will remain open until September 2026.
The exhibit is included with the price of admission, which is $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for children ages 6-12. Or you can upgrade to a guided tour led by a docent before or after hours for $52.95 for adults and $42.95 for children. You can purchase tickets here.
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Dolly Parton: “I’m a Seeker”