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City Cast Nashville

Explainers

Margaret Kingsbury

We’re all devastated by Dolly Parton’s death. Dolly left behind such a beautiful legacy that goes far beyond her work as a musician. Over the years, Nashville artists have commemorated Dolly with murals around town. Here are 10 such murals. If you know of more, 

 in 2020, this Dolly Parton mural on the side of indie music venue The 5 Spot in East Nashville is perhaps the most popular. The mural includes a Black Lives Matter quote from Dolly.

Kim Radford was also commissioned by Dolly’s niece, Rebecca Seaver, to paint 

 of Dolly reading to her as a child. It’s my personal favorite Dolly mural, celebrating her early childhood literacy work through the Imagination Library.

Okay, one last mural from Kim Radford! She painted 

 on the side of Velvet Taco’s East Nashville location, right by the pickup window.

Head to one of our favorite Lower Broadway honky-tonks for 

 that says “If you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain” in a ribbon around the musician’s portrait. Artist 

While you’re on Lower Broadway, stop at this mural on the side of the Legends Corner honky-tonk. 

 painted the mural, and it features many country music legends, including Dolly.

l on the side of Urban Cookhouse says “I Will Always Love You, Nashville,” with Dolly’s silhouette playing guitar in the “I.”

Turn off Bransford Avenue onto East Iris Drive in Berry Hill to find this mural of famous musicians, including Dolly, painted on the side of fences, right by Columbine Park. Nashville artist 

This series also includes multiple portraits of 

, such as Dolly, on the side of a supplier’s warehouse.

Hop up to the second floor of the Grand Ole Opry for 

While you’re in the area, head to The Nashville Palace for the “

💖 Remembering Dolly

Over the years, Nashville artists have commemorated Dolly with murals around town. Here are 10 such murals.

Check Out These 10 Dolly Parton Murals in Nashville

Where To Find Dolly Parton Murals in Nashville

What Nashvillians have been wondering. We break down why things in Nashville are the way they are and how they work.

Nashville, Explained

We asked you for your memories of Dolly Parton, and your emails keep pouring in. Dolly was such a shining light in this world. Here are some of your Dolly memories.

 books for my granddaughter, born in 2013, who received your books in 2020. You will be missed but not forgotten.”

“She was the hallmark of grace and compassion in the industry with a huge heart, a smile, and a song for everyone. God bless Dolly, and may she be with her family during this time.”

“My daughter was almost three when the pandemic hit. She first knew Dolly as an angel who funded the vaccine that saved millions of lives and safeguarded hers.

We arrived in Nashville when she was four — just one month before her brother was born. Representatives of Dolly’s came to the hospital room where my son was born to register the kids in her Imagination Library, where they each got the gift of one book every month until they turned five.

My son just received his last book, and a special happy birthday and happy graduation video from Dolly.

We all know her and love her for different things. Wonderful things. She moved us all. What an incredible person and incredible life. The very definition of leaving the campsite better than you found it.”

“Dolly was pure love and joy, she bridged sexes, politics, skin color, any and all that divide us. Incredible woman who could laugh at herself, make self-deprecating jokes, and still shine on!”

“She was always herself. She did have children, we her fans are her children, that she loved. [She was] so genuine to the end, told us always what was what. Now she is with Carl, loved ones, and the Lord!! I look forward to meeting her and hearing her sing in heaven!! We will always love you!”

“In college, I did tech theatre. One of the things I did, and it was good money for college, was called Load In/Load Out where you would help traveling shows set up and break down. One of these shows was Dolly Parton. I didn't fully see the show because this was a relatively rural college and tickets were long gone, but I did do Load In/Load Out and, this was more than 20 years ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy, but either after setting up or before breaking down she took a moment to have us all come out and thanked the crew. [She] knew most of us were all college students and said we'd all go on to make the world a little bit brighter and never forget our time in a little rural college that brought art to the people there.

I ended up pursuing education for my own additional reasons of expanding opportunities for those that need it most and have always respected the Imagination Library. As a new parent, one of the first things we did when our child was born was sign them up to get their book a month. It's a joy seeing that little book come in mail and being able to share that new book and reread the others to my kid every night. I hope my kid still gets that letter from the late Ms. Parton when they turn five.

I'd like to share that Nashville Public Library has its own local initiative to build on that work with Begin Bright, adding resources to early learning educators and parents of young children in collaboration with the Imagination Library, and I would hope you share this information with your listeners. People can contribute and take advantage of that work at 

“Walked to the mural while listening to the 

 of City Cast Nashville, passing several Imagination Library license plates on the way. It was what I needed. Dolly truly loved TN and TN truly loved her.”

🦋 Our Memories of Dolly

Dolly Parton is one of Tennessee's greatest contributions to the world. Nashville locals share their memories of the late music icon.

Nashville Locals Remember Dolly Parton

Your Memories of Dolly

August and September are the biggest months for fairs in Tennessee. If you’re feeling nostalgic for funnel cakes, pig races, Ferris wheels, and dubiously maintained fair rides, then here are five of the best fairs in the Nashville area.

 Williamson County Agricultural EXPO Park, Franklin

 $14 for adults, $7 for kids, free for ages 5 and under, ride wristbands $25-35

In addition to all the classic fair rides and games, check out the birthing pigs exhibit, come face to face with dragons, enjoy historic reenactments, and stay late for fireworks on Friday and Saturday night.

Tennessee State Fair / Wilson County Fair

 James E. Ward Agricultural Center, Lebanon

 $14+ for adults, $5+ for kids, free for ages 5 and under, ride wristbands $25-30

This is the largest local fair, and considered one of the best in the country. Prepare yourself for crowds; over 700,000 people attend every year. I recommend taking advantage of their satellite parking and riding a shuttle over (pulled by a tractor!). This year’s theme, “Tennessee Voices and Volunteers Celebrating America 250!,” honors the nation’s 250th anniversary, while the fair also celebrates 2026 as the Year of Forestry.

 This small-town favorite features one-of-a-kind rides like the iconic 

” featuring a range of poultry exhibits and an ugly chicken contest.

 $15+, kids 12 and under are free, ride armbands $25+

 This year’s theme is “Starry Nights & Midway Lights,” and as the theme suggests, the Midway schedule is booming, with a rodeo, tractor pull, motocross, and more. A livestock show runs alongside the fair.

 $10 for adults, $8 for kids and seniors, free for ages 5 and under, ride wristbands $35

 This is the least crowded fair, and therefore my favorite. It doesn’t have quite the level of fair food and unique performances as the state fair, but it does have all the classics, and it’s right in our own backyard. My favorite part is 

🎡 A History of the Tennessee State Fair

It's fair season! Here are five of the best Nashville area fairs.

5 of the Best Nashville Area Fairs

Your Guide to Nashville Area Fairs

Elissa Castles

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives 

passed a bipartisan bill that would make daylight saving time permanent

, forever eliminating the biannual clock change ritual. The legislation would also allow states to opt-out, but Tennessee has already passed a law saying it would adopt year-round daylight saving time if Congress gave the green light. So that got us wondering: If you had a say, what would you choose?

Test your Nashville knowledge with these other weekly news quizzes:

Which Musician Signed a Record Deal at The Bluebird Cafe?

How much is the average residential electric bill in Nashville?

What’s the most popular flight out of Nashville?

What was Nashville’s most visited tourist attraction in 2025?

What’s the tallest building in Nashville?

How many hours a year do Nashvillians spend in traffic?

What was Nashville’s first hot chicken restaurant?

What was Dolly Parton’s first song to hit number one on the country music charts?

How many miles of sidewalks did Nashville add in 2025?

Which of these is NOT an In-N-Out Burger location?

Why can we sometimes see the northern lights in Nashville?

What's Nashville's most popular Halloween costume?

How well do you know Nashville's neighborhoods?

Which one of these celebrated Nashville authors has won a Pulitzer Prize?

What’s the average annual salary in Tennessee?

Which of these movies was NOT shot in Nashville?

What’s the average monthly rent of a two-bedroom apartment in Nashville?

Before it was called the Speedway, what kind of races were held on the Fairgrounds’ track?

What's the most popular dog name in Tennessee?

How much is yearly infant child care in Nashville?

Which members-only gathering would you be most excited about?

Guess These Iconic Nashville Locations Based on Their One-Star Reviews

What is Jeni’s most popular ice cream flavor in Nashville?

How much does the average single-family home cost in Nashville?

Who was the first non-country music artist to perform at CMA Fest?

Could You Pass the Third-Grade TCAP Test?

How many acres of park land does Nashville have?

Where did the Fisk Jubilee Singers first go on tour?

How many items were checked out from the Nashville Public Library last year?

What’s the name of Centennial Park’s lake?

What’s the most popular baby name in Tennessee?

How many speed bumps does Nashville have?

Which musician has yet to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame?

What's the farthest the Vanderbilt men's basketball team has ever advanced in the NCAA Tournament?

What's downtown Nashville's oldest building?

Who performed opening night at The Pinnacle?

How many weddings happened in Nashville in 2023?

How many times have the Tennessee Titans played in the Super Bowl?

What famous Nashville stage did Dolly Parton first perform on?

What’s the coldest day on record in Nashville?

Which of these Civil Rights leaders lived in Nashville?

How Well Do You Know Nashville?: Streets Edition

If you like what you see, subscribe to the 

 newsletter below. We’ll send local news, things to do, and other Nashville essentials to your inbox every weekday morning — plus, a fresh news quiz every Friday ⬇️

If you had a say, would you approve permanent daylight saving time?

Take our readers' poll!

Readers’ Poll: What Time Should It Be?

Whitney Pastorek

State and Federal Midterm Primary Elections

, as well as the Davidson County Municipal Election! Early voting runs July 17 to Aug. 1, and Election Day is Aug. 6. Here’s your guide to this election, from where to vote to what’s on the ballot.

. Because no Republican candidates qualified for the May 5 Davidson County municipal primary, the Democratic nominees are the presumptive winners.

 may have drawn you into a new U.S. House district. Districts 4 [

While the sample ballot might look long, 

you’ll only vote on the races in your district

, and many State House and Senate candidates are also running uncontested. 

 to see what will be on your specific ballot based on your address.

The Nashville Banner has profiled the Democratic candidates in the highly-contested 

Our local news outlets have also profiled the federal candidates:

Finally, you will be voting to retain or replace two justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court and five appellate court judges. 

Tennessee doesn’t have same-day voter registration, so if you’re not registered to vote here, you’ll be unable to participate in this election. 

 for the Nov. 3 general election, where you can cast your ballot on the final federal and state candidates, plus municipal elections in local areas like Belle Meade and Forest Hills.

, the last day to request an absentee ballot is July 27.

Tennessee requires a photo ID to vote. Here’s a 

 throughout Davidson County where you can cast your vote every day except Sunday. This includes brand-new EV locations at the Davidson County Election Commission office, the Community Foundation of Middle TN, and the Scarritt Bennett Center.

On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling location. You can find your polling location on your voter registration card, or 

. Don’t show up to an early voting location on Aug. 6 unless it’s your designated polling location, or you’ll be turned away!

🗳️ Listen to our election guide

Here's your guide to the Federal and State Midterm Primary Elections, from where to vote to what's on the ballot.

Your Guide to the Aug 6 Federal and State Primary Elections

Think you know what it costs to live in Nashville? Take our quiz and guess the rent on these local listings.

Can You Guess the Rent on These Nashville Listings?

Guess the Rent in Nashville

This week, local third through eighth-grade students have been participating in mandatory Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests. To continue to fourth grade, third graders must “meet or exceed” expectations on the English Language Arts portion of the test or receive intervention services.

I’ve compiled five questions from the TN Dept. of Education’s 

Could you pass the third-grade TCAP test? 

 to find out! And share this test with friends to compare scores!

TCAP testing is this week for Nashville students. How well would you do? Take this quiz to find out!

Test Yourself on Tennessee's Third-Grade TCAP Assessment

! Early voting runs April 15 to 30, and Election Day is May 5. Here’s your guide to this election, from where to vote to what’s on the ballot.

. All the candidates in the Davidson County Primary Election are Democrats. This election will determine who will fill Nashville’s criminal, circuit, and general sessions court benches, as well as several clerk’s offices. Four Metro Nashville Public Schools board seats are on the ballot for Districts 2, 4, 6, and 8. Check 

what school board district you’re in here

While the sample ballot might look long, many candidates are running uncontested, and depending on your district you’ll only vote on some of the races. 

Both the Nashville Banner and The Tennessean have been running candidate profiles:

General Sessions Court judge candidates (

 for the Aug. 6 election, where you can cast your ballot on the final county candidates, plus the state and federal primaries.

, the last day to request an absentee ballot is April 25.

 throughout Davidson County where you can cast your vote every day except Sunday.

. Don’t show up to an early voting location on May 5 unless it’s your designated polling location, or you’ll be turned away!

🗳️ More 2026 Elections

Here's your guide to the Davidson County Primary Election, from where to vote to what's on the ballot.

Your Guide to the May 5 Davidson County Primary Election

Welcome to your neighborhood bulletin board, where we keep you updated on upcoming community meetings we think you should know about, from chatting with councilmembers to discussing traffic solutions. Not sure what district you live in? 

Many neighborhoods are hosting community cleanups this month. 

Give feedback on proposed WeGo summer public transit service changes at 

The Metro Nashville Planning Department is holding four public meetings from April 8-16 for folks who live or work in Nashville’s urban core to 

discuss its Design & Development Strategy

Learn more about WeGo’s public transit at a 

 on the curb for NDOT to collect by April 19.

Join a virtual meeting on April 9 to discuss 

proposed updates to the 55+ community development

On April 23, join Councilmember Antoinette Lee and Metro Departments for a 

Join a virtual traffic calming meeting for 

 at the Goodlettsville Library Branch on April 11.

The Donelson-Hermitage Neighborhood Alliance is hosting 

a District 4 MNPS School Board candidate forum

 on Thursday, April 2, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Hermitage Precinct.

 is meeting at the Isaac Litton Alumni Center.

 about a proposed development on April 6.

Neighborhood Conversations

👋 What’s going on in your neighborhood?

Here's your community bulletin board for discussions happening in your Nashville neighborhood April 2026.

Nashville, Explained

Where To Find Dolly Parton Murals in Nashville

Your Memories of Dolly

Your Guide to Nashville Area Fairs

Latest articles

Readers’ Poll: What Time Should It Be?

Your Guide to the Aug 6 Federal and State Primary Elections

Guess the Rent in Nashville

Could You Pass the Third-Grade TCAP Test?

Your Guide to the May 5 Davidson County Primary Election

Nashville Neighborhood Conversations for April 2026

Your Guide to Key Dates in Nashville’s 2026 Elections