NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A historic bench in Centennial Park now carries a lasting tribute to one of Nashville’s most beloved icons. Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy have dedicated a bench near the Sunken Garden in memory of Dolly Parton, celebrating her enduring connection to the park, her contributions to the Nashville community, and her lifelong commitment to inspiring children to read, dream and imagine.
The dedication was celebrated Saturday, August 29, as Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy marked the grand opening of the revitalized north side of Centennial Park. The revitalization includes a new event pavilion for community gatherings and Croquet Cafe, the first restaurant in a Nashville park, creating new opportunities for the community to gather and enjoy the park.
The Dolly Parton bench offers a particularly meaningful connection to Centennial Park’s history. In 1975, acclaimed photographer Raeanne Rubenstein photographed Parton in Centennial Park’s Sunken Garden, capturing approximately 60 images of the young singer and rising star lounging on one of Centennial Park’s historic conversation benches.
A print of an iconic photograph of Parton reclining on the bench will be placed on permanent display in the Parthenon when its Athens of the South exhibition reopens, preserving a piece of Nashville and Centennial Park history for future generations.
The new plaque on the bench offers a simple tribute to Parton:
Turn a Page
Sing a Song
And imagine
For Dolly,
We will always love you.
The tribute also reflects Parton’s deep connection to Centennial Park through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which for the past eight years has partnered with Centennial Park Conservancy’s Kidsville program to promote childhood literacy through programming at the Parthenon and Musicians Corner. Through the partnership, children and families have been encouraged to discover the joy of reading and the power of imagination — values that are central to Parton’s legacy.
“Dolly Parton has given so much to Nashville and to children around the world, and it is especially meaningful that this tribute lives in Centennial Park, where she was photographed more than 50 years ago,” said Monique Horton Odom, director of Metro Parks and Recreation. “The words on this plaque capture so much of what Dolly represents: the joy of music, the importance of reading and the limitless possibilities that come from using your imagination. We hope this bench becomes a special place for generations of visitors to pause, reflect and remember her incredible legacy.”
“Dolly has always understood the power of a story — to open a child’s mind, spark a dream and inspire them to imagine what is possible,” said Brooke Siegel-Rochelle, Senior Manager of Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee. “It is incredibly meaningful to see her honored here in Centennial Park, a place where she made memories early in her career and where, decades later, her Imagination Library continues to connect children with the joy and possibility of books. This bench is a beautiful reminder of Dolly’s legacy and the countless lives she has touched through music, storytelling and her unwavering belief in the power of imagination.”
The bench is located a short distance from another Centennial Park bench honoring a beloved Nashville-connected music icon, Taylor Swift, creating a small gathering of tributes to artists whose careers and legacies have intersected with the city.
With its new dedication, the historic bench now serves as both a reminder of a remarkable moment in Centennial Park’s past and a tribute to Parton’s continuing influence on Nashville and beyond — connecting music, storytelling, imagination and the community in a place where all four have long found a home.
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