{"id":7228,"date":"2026-01-20T11:41:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T11:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7228"},"modified":"2026-01-20T11:41:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T11:41:44","slug":"just-last-night-january-17-the-grand-ole-opry-was-filled-with-emotion-as-vince-gill-and-lainey-wilson-joined-voices-for-a-moving-duet-of-i-will-always-love-you-honoring-dolly-par","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7228","title":{"rendered":"Just last night (January 17), The Grand Ole Opry was filled with emotion as Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson joined voices for a moving duet of \u201cI Will Always Love You,\u201d honoring Dolly Parton ahead of her milestone 80th birthday. The performance unfolded during the special \u201cOpry Goes Dolly\u201d celebration, which brought together country favorites including Rhonda Vincent, Mark Wills, and more \u2014 all paying tribute to the woman whose songs have shaped generations. Dolly listened quietly from the audience, visibly moved as her music filled the room once again. \u201cI just want you to know how much this means to me,\u201d she later said warmly. \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t expect this\u2026 I was truly surprised by this birthday gift.\u201d Her words were met with sustained applause \u2014 but the night still had one more moment waiting. Just when it felt like the tribute had reached its peak, the celebration shifted. The lights softened. A birthday cake appeared. And suddenly, Dolly was invited onto the Opry stage. Candles flickered. The room leaned in. For a brief, unforgettable pause, the Opry wasn\u2019t a historic venue or a televised celebration \u2014 it was a room full of people holding their breath as Dolly Parton smiled, closed her eyes, and blew out 80 candles. The crowd rose to its feet, not in celebration of a legend, but in recognition of a life \u2014 a woman whose music has lived inside so many others for so long. In that moment, Dolly wasn\u2019t just being honored. She was home…. WATCH VIDEO BELOW \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div>\n
\n

Just last night (January 17), The Grand Ole Opry was filled with emotion as Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson joined voices for a moving duet of \u201cI Will Always Love You,\u201d honoring Dolly Parton ahead of her milestone 80th birthday. The performance unfolded during the special \u201cOpry Goes Dolly\u201d celebration, which brought together country favorites including Rhonda Vincent, Mark Wills, and more \u2014 all paying tribute to the woman whose songs have shaped generations.<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
<\/ins><\/p>\n

Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson were among the artists who gathered at The Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night, January 17, to celebrate Dolly Parton\u2019s 80th birthday.<\/h2>\n

\"Dolly<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Country legend Dolly Parton will turn 80 years old on Monday (January 19), but the celebration started early with the \u201cOpry Goes Dolly\u201d show. Vince Gill, Lainey Wilson, Rhonda Vincent, Mark Wills, and more took the stage to sing some of Dolly\u2019s biggest hits.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Parton herself was absent from the celebration, but spoke to the audience via video, saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cOpry family, I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you\u2019re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol\u2019 birthday with some of my songs,\u201d she said. \u201cSome of my favorite memories happened right here on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. I wish I could be there in person, but I\u2019ll be sending you all my love for sure. So, you have the best night ever!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dolly, who became a member of the Opry in 1969, opted to celebrate her milestone birthday privately in light of recent health issues.<\/p>\n

The highlight of the night was Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson\u2019s duet.<\/h2>\n

\"Dolly<\/p>\n

After Vince Gill and Lainey each performed their own sets, they came together at the end of the night to sing two Dolly hits. They first performed a cover of \u201cLight of a Clear Blue Morning,\u201d a 1977 release that Parton recently re-recorded with Lainey, Queen Latifah, Reba, and Miley Cyrus.<\/p>\n

The final song of the night was \u201cI Will Always Love You.\u201d Dolly first released the tune in 1974. Vince Gill joined her for a re-recording of the hit for her 1995 album,\u00a0Something Special<\/em>. Their duet earned a Grammy nomination and a trophy for the CMA Vocal Event of the Year.<\/p>\n

\"Opry<\/p>\n

Those attending Saturday\u2019s Opry celebration in honor of Dolly called Vince and Lainey\u2019s duet an emotional performance that the legend would be proud of.<\/p>\n

Watch Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson sing \u201cI Will Always Love You\u201d in the video below.<\/strong><\/p>\n