Dolly Parton's niece Jada Star pays emotional tribute to late country icon at Grand Ole Opry
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s niece, Jada Star, remembered the country music icon through music on Saturday, August 29, leading a tribute at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where a show was dedicated to Parton.
Parton died at 80 on August 25 following what her team confirmed to PEOPLE was a “brief battle with cancer,” four days after she was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.
Jada Star leads Dolly Parton tribute at Grand Ole Opry
Star led the musical tributes with a rendition of 'The Orchard,' which the pair had previously performed for Parton’s 2024 collaborative family album, 'Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables.'
Star, whose real name is Jada Andersen, sang, “A tapestry of happiness and tears / Passed down year to year / We tell our children / Every story so they can continue building / A foundation that is solid and so strong / For them to carry on.”
She continued, “Even though some older leaves have fallen / We all know new trees will grow / A family tree becomes an orchard calling / For us to sing their song / Their memory goes on.”
After the audience applauded the heartfelt performance, Star said, “Thank you. I love you, cousins. We’re all going to be alright. I promise.”
Other artists who performed tributes included Carly Pearce, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, Molly Tuttle and Channing Wilson. The night concluded with the musicians performing '9 to 5,' joined by a surprise appearance from Jelly Roll.
Earlier that day, Star announced on Facebook that she would perform 'The Orchard' as part of the tribute.
“I have been asked to sing my song ‘The Orchard’ tonight as part of the Grand Ole Opry’s tribute to my incredible aunt, Dolly Parton,” she wrote, adding, “I am walking around in a fog of sadness, like all of you have. I do not take this honor lightly.”
Dolly Parton's family shares emotional memories after her death
Star is the daughter of Parton’s sister Freida, one of the 11 siblings of the '9-to-5' actress. Following in her aunt’s footsteps, Star released her debut album, 'Long Way Home,' in 2018 alongside her friend, Barry J.
After Parton’s death was announced on Tuesday, August 25, Star shared a statement on Instagram announcing that she would be taking a break from social media.
“I want you to know we are all reeling and grieving with you,” she wrote.
She continued, “Thank you for grieving with us. I won’t be online for about a week, but please know I am already reading your messages. Thank you. Myself and my family will need time, but we are here with you.”
Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news of her death in an Instagram video. Seaver, the son of Cassie Parton, represented the Parton and Owens family in announcing the singer’s passing.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued and added, “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
