Still working ‘9 to 5,’ Dolly Parton marks 50 years at Opry

Country superstar Dolly Parton is still working “9 to 5,” and doing what she loves as she celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member.

73-year-old actress, singer and songwriter, who first played Opry when she was just a teenr, played longstanding rio show Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee, in front of sold-out crowds. Hank Williams Jr., Ly Antebellum and Toby Keith performed in her hor as well and her shows capped off a week of Dolly-med performances and events at Opry.

She joked to reporters before her performance that when Opry approached her about anniversary, she told m, “I don’t want people to think I’m 50 years old.”

anniversary reminded her of first time she got to perform at Opry.

“Well a lot of people think this is my 50th year Grand Ole Opry,” Parton said. “It’s actually been 60 because first time I got to sing on Opry I was 13 years old. And actually Johnny Cash introduced me, I believe. And Jimmy C. Newman h given me his spot.”

Parton said she was grateful to still be chasing her dreams and said she’s got more film, TV and music projects on way. Opry performances will be aired on an NBC special on v. 26 and Netflix will air an anthology series based on her songs in 2019.

“I’m just very hored that I’m still around, t only to just get to accept this, that I can actually perform and get out re and still doing what I love to do,” Parton said. “And maybe I’ll be around ar 50 years, who kws. If I’m lucky.”