Watch: Dolly Parton Thought Her Wedding Dress Was 'Long Gone' — How It Turned Up 5 Decades Later

Summers also noted the now-viral photo booth images of Parton and Dean. He'd never seen those photos before they made their way into the Life of Many Colors Museum. But those photos capture the couple's relationship and Dean's personality. Summers said Dean was "a comedian at heart."

Parton's wedding dress, the photos with her husband, and many other items are on display in the museum, which is located on the third floor of the SongTeller hotel. Museum goers will go on a journey in time that begins with Parton's home she grew up in, located in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee (including a replica of the "Coat of Many Colors," and more). Fans will relive Parton's move to Nashville (where she met Dean at the Wishy Washy Laundromat), her days on Porter Wagoner's show, her iconic movies, her vibrant wardrobe pieces, her unforgettable duets, Dollywood's beginnings, the Imagination Library, and more. Throughout the museum, Parton tells her life story in videos recorded before her death.

Parton "died peacefully" on August 25 in Nashville, according to an official announcement issued at the time. She was 80. Her representatives later said in a statement to PEOPLE, "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones." Parton was laid to rest in a private service for immediate family beside Dean, who died in March 2025. He was 82.

Parton's team shared updates on the projects she was actively working on at the time of her passing, including the hotel and museum. The SongTeller Hotel is Parton's "love letter to Nashville, featuring 245 unique guest rooms and suites, two live entertainment venues, café and vibrant spaces designed to celebrate Dolly's career and the spirit of Music City," according to a previous press release. The Life of Many Colors Museum is "an immersive journey through Dolly's life, music and legacy, bringing personal stories and rarely seen pieces of her collection together through interactive exhibits and thoughtfully curated experiences."