Carly Pearce will always love Dolly Parton.
Pearce, a Kentucky native, got her start singing at Parton’s Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Parton invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2021, and Pearce sang Parton’s “Jolene” at the Opry 100: A Live Celebration, the Opry’s 100th birthday event.
Pearce capped her more than 40-date hummingbird world tour with a sold-out headlining set Friday night at Ryman Auditorium. Pearce teamed with the Opry to incorporate Parton into her special night.
“When I was a little girl, literally the only thing I thought about was country music,” Pearce said. “Fast forward, when I was 16, I convinced my parents to let me quit high school because I saw an audition to sing in the country show at Dollywood. I was like, ‘Working 9 to 5 for Dolly sounds so much better than sophomore year of high school.’”
Pearce pointed to the Ryman stage and said, “This is what that little girl thought of. Dolly also loved the Grand Ole Opry, and she made her debut here on this stage. She was invited to be a member of this stage. Fast forward, and Dolly invites me to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
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Carly Pearce Fought Through a Vocal Lesion to Close Tour at the Ryman
To commemorate the Opry’s 100th and Parton’s longtime dedication to The Grand Ole Opry, Opry executives asked Pearce to debut the radio show’s new rhinestone-encrusted Dolly Parton mic stand that is emblazoned with pink and purple butterflies. The mic stand will be used throughout the Opry’s centennial celebration, but Pearce unveiled and got to break it on Friday night.
“It’s actually really beautiful, and I want to steal it,” Pearce said as she pulled off the blue velvet cover. “We’re going to honor Dolly and all the moments she’s had on this stage. I’m going to sing this song about a mean girl named Jolene.”
Tackling the song was ambitious for Pearce, who revealed she was suffering from a lesion on her vocal cord for the first time in her life before the show. She said she was just trying to make it through the concert and would be on vocal rest following the performance. Pearce shared her health news backstage before the show, but fans in the audience would never have known that she was fighting through an injury.
Carly Pearce Celebrates with Wine
Dressed in a pleated, flowing mint green mini dress and knee-high silver sparkle boots, Pearce smiled, giggled, told stories, and wowed the audience with her album cuts and radio hits. Her setlist included chart-toppers “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” with Carter Faith stepping in for Ashley McBryde, and “Every Little Thing.” She turned her Chris Stapleton duet “We Don’t Fight Anymore” into a solo moment. Little Big Town made a surprise appearance, singing their hits “Girl Crush” and “Boondocks.” Set against a flower garden-inspired backdrop, Pearce confidently belted “Next Girl,” “Truck on Fire,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and “What He Didn’t Do.”
But she also left room for a little celebration. Before the night was over, Pearce grabbed a cup from behind her on stage.
She took a swing, and quipped: “It’s wine, because we sold out the freaking Ryman! OK?”
Photo by Jason Moore/ZUMA Press
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