In celebration of Dolly Parton’s eightieth birthday, the Museum hosts a panel discussion highlighting her 2023 book, “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” with panelists Holly George-Warren, a fashion writer and one of Parton’s “Behind the Seams” co-authors; Rebecca Seaver, director of museum and archive services for Dolly Parton Productions and another “Behind the Seams” co-author; and Steve Summers, longtime costumer and creative director for Dolly Parton Enterprises. This program was moderated by the Museum’s Allison Moorer, offered in support of the exhibition “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker,” and recorded live on January 17, 2026.

The conversation opens on Parton’s early inclinations toward fashion and beauty, the significant family effort required to launch the singer’s career, and her move to Nashville after high school to pursue her artistic dreams. The trio also discusses Parton’s determination to present her authentic self in an industry that was initially resistant to her vision and how her first record label felt the need to tone down her aesthetic. Additionally, George-Warren, Seaver, and Summers talk about Parton’s first fashion design partner, Lucy Adams, who Parton met at a taping of “The Porter Wagoner Show”; country singer-songwriter and fiddle player Rose Maddox’s influence on Parton’s fashion sense; and how Parton turned the difficult “Coat of Many Colors” story into a positive, beautiful song showcasing her resiliency, which has been a throughline of her career.

The panelists also address technical questions regarding strategy, materials, and wardrobe planning around collaborations with other artists. Summers describes the machine behind Parton’s aesthetic and how her team creates an average of 300 designs a year. Seaver shares how she learned archival skills from Judy Ogle, the originator of Parton’s archive, and how that knowledge informs her work to this day. The program concludes with an audience Q&A touching on such topics as protocols around the physical storage and preservation of the garments and the archiving of Parton’s casual clothes in addition to her stage wear.

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