Dolly Parton’s Only North Dakota Performance & 1 Other Noteable

The Legendary Dolly Parton has Passed Away

The country music icon, actress, and all-around beautiful soul passed away peacefully in her Nashville home yesterday at the age of 80, according to her family. No cause of death has been released yet, but Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health difficulties of late.

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I never had the opportunity to see or meet the woman who inspired so many with her life story, growing up in a one-room cabin in the Tennessee hills with 9 brothers and sisters. Can you imagine? Yep, Dolly was brought up dirt poor, but she knew she was rich in so many other areas, and she cherished the family she grew up with.

My Nashville Trip

I don't get the chance to travel often, mainly because I'm a poor DJ, but last year for my son's 21st birthday we took him to Nashville (he's a big country music fan), and we did the Broadway bar scene. I vaguely remember walking by Dolly's Wine Bar. It's a place where her fans can taste selections directly from her personal wine collection. It's located inside the Assembly Food Hall just off Broadway in downtown Nashville.

(SEE ALSO: Rick Rider's Tour of the Grand Ole' Opry)

Dolly in North Dakota

As I was reminiscing over Dolly Parton's life and career, it got me thinking about whether she had ever performed in North Dakota before. I figured she must have, right? I grew up in Grand Forks, and I seem to recall a picture at the famous Chester Fritz Auditorium, which has been home to numerous classic country artists' performances. After a call to them yesterday and some digging into historical records, it was confirmed that Dolly had never graced that stage before.

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I then figured at the very least, she had performed in Fargo or maybe Bismarck before. Nope, after some research, no records of Dolly Parton in either of North Dakota's two biggest cities.

Dolly Parton's Only ND Performance

The only record of Dolly Parton ever performing in North Dakota before was back on July 30th, 1978, at the Minot City Auditorium in front of 3,380 people. The Minot City Council even named Dolly an honorary citizen of Minot. Tickets, by the way, for that show were $2.50 in advance and 3.00 dollars at the door.

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

One other notable Dolly Parton performance was at none other than WE Fest, Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, back on August 5th, 1990, headlining the country music festival. It was reported that Dolly even invited a local community choir from Detroit Lakes to perform her song "He's Alive" on stage.

Rest in peace, Dolly; the world just got a little less bright without you in it.