Butterfly Flutters Across Opry Stage During Mae Estes’ Beautiful Dolly Parton Tribute [WATCH]
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Dolly Parton’s Special Connection With Butterflies
Throughout Dolly Parton’s legendary career, butterflies became one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the country music icon. She embraced their delicate, whimsical beauty in everything from her music and lyrics to logos, album artwork, and merchandise.
That love of butterflies was even reflected in what would become Dolly’s final public appearance. Just four days before her death on August 25, Dolly appeared virtually during an event celebrating a new attraction at her beloved Dollywood theme park, with enormous butterfly wings fluttering behind her.
Butterfly Spotted Onstage During Country Singer’s Tribute To Dolly Parton
Perhaps that is why a remarkable moment at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry the night after Dolly’s sudden death left those in attendance wondering if they had witnessed something truly magical.
During rising country star Mae Estes’ emotional tribute to the beloved singer, a butterfly suddenly appeared and fluttered above the stage, briefly illuminated by the bright lights as it danced through the air.
Mae later shared video of the incredible moment, and others who witnessed it have corroborated her story, including beloved Grand Ole Opry announcer and WSM host Kelly Sutton.
Mae, who has been making a name for herself in country music and made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023, was already scheduled to perform at the historic venue when news broke of Dolly’s tragic death.
Having met and long admired Dolly, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, Mae decided to honor the country music icon by performing one of her most beloved songs, “Coat of Many Colors,” during her set.
With a photo of Dolly illuminated on a screen above her, Estes sang the 1971 classic to the packed venue. As she performed, she noticed an unexpected little winged visitor fluttering through the lights behind her.
“A yellow butterfly flew through the lights behind me, on the stage for the end of that song. They all saw it,” Mae could be heard saying in a video following her performance.
Singer-songwriter Ward Davis, who also performed at the Opry that night, later shared his own account of the remarkable moment in a Facebook post.
“Last night when Mae Estes sang ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ a big yellow butterfly flew across the Opry stage,” Davis wrote. “It wasn’t a prop. There wasn’t a butterfly handler backstage. There was just God and Dolly and Mae Estes all getting together at the Grand Ole Opry. What a night.”
The Grand Ole Opry will be hosting a tribute concert in honor of Dolly on Saturday with a portion of ticket sales set to benefit her beloved Imagination Library.
