Nashville is a town that loves a legend. But even in a city packed with stars, nobody gets quite as much real estate as Dolly Parton. If you’ve spent five minutes in East Nashville or wandered near the neon hum of Broadway lately, you’ve probably seen her. Not the woman herself—though she’s around—but her face, rendered in vibrant spray paint and brushstrokes across several stories of brick.
Finding a Dolly Parton mural Nashville locals actually hang out near is becoming a bit of a scavenger hunt. It's not just about the art. These walls have become touchstones for local politics, charity, and that specific brand of Tennessee kitsch that only Dolly can pull off.
The Mural That Started a Movement (and a Few Arguments)
If you only visit one, make it the Kim Radford piece. You’ll find it in East Nashville, tucked on the side of a dive bar called The 5 Spot at 1006 Forrest Avenue. Honestly, this is the one that put Nashville’s mural scene on the map for more than just bachelorette parties.
Radford was already halfway through painting Dolly surrounded by those signature butterflies and wildflowers when the world changed in the summer of 2020. Dolly gave an interview to Billboard where she said, “Of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!”
Radford saw the quote and knew the mural wasn't finished. She went back to the wall and added those exact words right at the top.
Why the 5 Spot Mural is Different
- The Controversy: Some folks tried to claim the media was twisting Dolly’s words, but the mural stands as a literal transcription of her interview.
- The Vibe: It’s in the heart of Five Points. You can grab a beer, stand across the street, and see why fans from as far as Dubai have reached out to the artist.
- The Butterflies: Look closely at the "expletive" in the quote—Radford used butterflies to mask the sassier language, keeping it "Dolly-clean" while keeping the edge.
It’s a powerful piece of art. It’s colorful. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the neighborhood needed during a pretty heavy year.
🔗 Read more: Why an Escape Room Stroudsburg PA Trip is the Best Way to Test Your Friendships
The "Rainbow and Rain" at Acme Feed & Seed
Down on Broadway, things get a little more "Old Nashville" mixed with "New Nashville." At the corner of 1st Avenue and Broadway, there’s a massive tribute on the side of Acme Feed & Seed. This one was done by Mackenzie Moore, the same artist who did the album art for Kacey Musgraves' Star-Crossed.
This mural features one of the most famous "Dollyisms" ever: “If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.” It’s a massive, multi-story portrait that was unveiled with Dolly’s actual blessing. When they revealed it, they didn’t just throw a party; they used the event to raise money for the Imagination Library. That’s Dolly’s literacy program that mails free books to kids. It’s hard to be cynical about a mural when it’s actively helping kids learn to read.
The Pink Goddess of Midtown
Then you’ve got the Graduate Hotel. This isn't just a mural; it’s an immersive experience in the Midtown neighborhood near Vanderbilt. If you go up to the rooftop bar, White Limozeen, you’re greeted by a giant pink sculpture of Dolly’s head made entirely of chicken wire.
Artist Ricky Pittman spent months on this thing. It’s nine feet tall and weighs over 600 pounds.
Pro tip: If you look closely under her left eye, there’s a tiny, single teardrop. Pittman added it as a tribute to those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a subtle, heartbreaking detail in a place that is otherwise aggressively pink and happy.
💡 You might also like: Why San Luis Valley Colorado is the Weirdest, Most Beautiful Place You’ve Never Been
Inside the hotel, there’s more. A 9-by-15-foot latch hook rug of Minnie Pearl greets you in the lobby, but the "Dolly-isms" are everywhere—from the "9 to 5" suite to the floral patterns that feel like they were pulled straight from a 1970s variety show set.
Literacy and Hume-Fogg
Wait, there’s another one. Kim Radford (the artist from the 5 Spot mural) struck again in 2023. This time, it’s a tribute to childhood literacy located on the wall of Hume-Fogg Magnet High School.
You can get the best view of this one from 715 Commerce Street. It’s a softer look at the icon, focusing on her role as a book-loving philanthropist rather than the rhinestone-clad superstar. It’s a reminder that in Nashville, Dolly is seen more as a patron saint than a celebrity.
How to Do the Dolly Tour Without Losing Your Mind
Nashville traffic is, frankly, a nightmare. If you want to see the Dolly Parton mural Nashville collection without spending four hours in a rental car, you have to be smart about your route.
- Start East: Hit The 5 Spot in the morning. Five Points is great for coffee (try Frothy Monkey or Bongo East) and the mural is usually in the shade, which is better for photos.
- Head to Broadway: Go to Acme Feed & Seed next. It’s right by the river. You can see the mural, then head inside for a drink and some live music.
- Finish at the Graduate: End your day at White Limozeen. You’ll need a reservation if you want to sit down and eat, but you can usually pop up to see the chicken wire sculpture and grab a photo of the skyline.
Basically, you're circling the city from East to Downtown to Midtown. It's a solid loop that covers the best "Saint Dolly" sightings in town.
📖 Related: Why Palacio da Anunciada is Lisbon's Most Underrated Luxury Escape
Beyond the Paint
What most people get wrong about these murals is thinking they're just "Instagram bait." Sure, they look great on a feed. But in Nashville, these walls are a way for the community to claim Dolly as their own. She represents a version of the South that is inclusive, kind, and unapologetically loud.
Whether it's the 5 Spot mural's political stance or the Acme mural's focus on literacy, these pieces of art tell the story of a woman who has spent 60 years refusing to be put in a box.
If you're planning your trip, don't just snap a selfie and leave. Look at the details—the butterflies, the teardrops, the quotes. There's a lot of heart on those walls.
To make your trip easier, I recommend downloading a local mural map or using a ride-share app between neighborhoods. Parking in 12 South or The Gulch can be a headache, but the East Nashville spots are usually a bit more "park-and-walk" friendly. Enjoy the search for the Queen of Country.