Tennessee lost its brightest rhinestone this week, and today we're taking some time to remember what Dolly Parton meant to Memphis, from a 1978 night at the Mid-South Fair to the Elvis duet that almost was.

But Dolly would be the first to tell us the show must go on — and around here, it really does.

In today’s issue:

We've also got the results from Monday's Graceland poll.

Let's get into it.

Arts

If you need a night out this weekend, Memphis theaters have you covered with four shows, and four totally different vibes.

Sports

The Memphis Tigers open the season Saturday, Aug. 29 at UNLV, and it's a big one.

Miss the road trip? The Tigers christen the freshly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Sept. 5 vs. Arkansas State.

Get the full season schedule here.

Music

Mark your calendars: the first-ever Memphis Jazz Festival hits Downtown Oct. 9–11.

Save your free spot here.

Tennessee said goodbye to Dolly Parton this week. The country legend died Tuesday at 80, and the tributes are pouring in from Beale Street to Buckingham Palace.

Memphis, remembered. Long before Dollywood, Dolly played the Mid-South Fair at the Coliseum in 1978 and returned with Kenny Rogers in 1990. Action News 5 talked with Memphis musicians who knew her, including producer Joe Mulherin, who spent three weeks working with her and calls her the best human being he ever met.

She told the King no. Elvis loved "I Will Always Love You" and planned to record it — until his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half the publishing rights the night before. Dolly refused and kept her song — a choice that paid off big when Whitney Houston's cover took over the world.

Plus:

Dolly also left behind a secret song she wrote in 2015, sealed in a time capsule at Dollywood. Nobody gets to hear it until 2045. She once joked she wanted to dig it up herself because "it's a really good song.”

Her family asks for donations to the Imagination Library instead of flowers. Give here.

Daily Picks

🐻 Grizz around town. The Memphis Grizzlies announced their slate of preseason community events leading up to the 2026-27 season, with chances to meet players and win prizes across the Mid-South. Single-game tickets go on sale Sept. 1, and the home opener is Oct. 21 against Utah.

📞 Help is on the line. Memphis added a fourth option to 911 calls: mental health. Alongside police, fire, and EMS, callers can now reach trained crisis counselors 24/7 for emotional crises or substance use struggles. Police Chief C.J. Davis says it gets the right help out faster.

🏛️ Blueprint to the stars. Frank Sinatra's architect had Memphis roots. A free exhibition opening Saturday at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis honors Paul Revere Williams, who broke barriers as the first documented Black member of the American Institute of Architects and designed the original star-shaped St. Jude hospital. See 200-plus photos of his work through Oct. 10, Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

🏫 Schools, dogs, and free roads. Germantown's latest BMA meeting was a busy one. The big item: a $13.5 million bond that sends $10 million to upgrades at Houston High and $3.5 million to renovate the Germantown Athletic Club's indoor pool. The board also approved 13 new vehicles for city departments, two new K-9 officers joining the police force, and $1.59 million in state and federal grant money to fix the Poplar-Kimbrough intersection, without spending a dime of local tax money.

🌳 Now hiring: park pro. The Town of Oakland is hiring a full-time Parks and Recreation maintenance helper to keep parks and ball fields looking sharp. Apply at Oakland Town Hall or online.

🎡 Funnel cake season begins. Get your stretchy pants ready: the Delta Fair rolls into the Agricenter Sept. 4–13 with carnival rides, games, live music, and everything fried you can imagine.

🏈 Your Friday night game plan. High school football is in full swing, and our 2026 High School Football Guide has every Memphis-area team, schedule, and stadium in one place. Bookmark it before Friday's kickoffs.

☕ Reminder: coffee's coming. 7 Brew, the fast-growing drive-thru coffee chains popping up across the metro, opens its Wolfchase location on North Germantown Parkway on Monday, Aug. 31. Stop by for coffee, smoothies and energy drinks at top speed.

🗂️ Catch up on the 901. Missed an issue this week? Every past edition of 901 Today lives in our newsletter archive. Browse them all anytime.

📣 Want to reach 10,000+ Memphians? 901 Today lands in more than 10,000 inboxes across the Memphis metro every weekday morning. If you want your business in front of our readers, let's talk.

On Monday we asked: have you ever actually toured Graceland? We expected a runaway winner. Not quite!

The results:

So for every longtime local who's never been, there's someone who keeps going back.

The King's still got it — and if you’re in the "never" camp, consider this your friendly nudge.

Thanks for spending part of your morning with us.

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Have a great Thursday, Memphis. We'll see you tomorrow with our weekend roundup of events and live music.

— 901 Today