Dolly Parton is set to bring her incredible life story to Broadway in her upcoming show, Dolly: An Original Musical, with the world premiere production now officially announced.
The 79-year-old national treasure’s musical will debut on Broadway in 2026, but will have its first production in her home state of Tennessee, and the reason has everything to do with timing.
‘Well, I ain’t getting no younger, but as I tell my husband [Carl Thomas Dean], I ain’t getting no older either,’ Dolly admitted at a press conference in Nashville on Tuesday.
‘I’ve outlived so many plastic surgeons. But I actually have always wanted to do my life story as a musical. And I just thought that I wanted to see it done while I’m still around, to be able to oversee it and make sure that it’s done properly in a way that I would want to see it, rather than to wait till I’m gone and let somebody else decide how they think it should be done.’
Previews will begin July 18 for a limited August 8-17 run at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
Dolly was joined onstage the Fisher Center by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher, who helmed McNeal starring Robert Downey Jr. at the Vivian Beaumont Theater last year.
Dolly Parton is set to bring her life story to Broadway in her upcoming show Dolly: An Original Musical
The 79-year-old national treasure’s musical will debut on Broadway in 2026, but will have its first production in her home state of Tennessee, and the reason has everything to do with timing
Parton is not only producing the show, she co-wrote the book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter and penned ‘many original songs’ and ‘included all your favorites’ too.
The literal rags-to-riches story will take audiences on a journey through the life of the legendary country crooner ‘from her barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood.’
Dolly did not reveal which three actresses were chosen to play her after their national casting call, but she joked: ‘I wish I had three of me a lot of times, the way I work!’
Parton previously earned a Tony Award nomination for composing the music to the Broadway musical 9 to 5 which ran in 2009 at Manhattan’s Marquis Theatre.
The 11-time Grammy winner’s 1984 song With Bells On was also featured in the Broadway musical Candles, Snow & Mistletoe, which ran in 1993 at the Palace Theatre.
Dolly flaunted her busty-yet-petite 5ft figure in a plunging white top, which exposed her black lacy bra, and a leggy leather maxi-skirt designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers.
Parton – who relies on wig master Cheryl Riddle – wore her platinum-blonde locks in a fringed shag and her suspiciously-plump pout and unlined complexion were fully glossed and contoured.
The godmother of Miley Cyrus – who who gets 16.2M monthly listeners on Spotify – has sold over 100M records and broken 10 Guinness World Recor.
Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
Tickets for Dolly: An Original Musical are now on sale at www.dollymusical.com.
Dolly continued: ‘I’ve outlived so many plastic surgeons. But I actually have always wanted to do my life story as a musical. And I just thought that I wanted to see it done while I’m still around, to be able to oversee it and make sure that it’s done properly’
So rather than wait to showcase Dolly: An Original Musical at a New York City venue, previews will begin July 18 for a limited August 8-17 run at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville (pictured January 10)
Parton was joined onstage the Fisher Center by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher (L), who helmed McNeal starring Robert Downey Jr. at the Vivian Beaumont Theater last year
The legendary country crooner is not only producing the show, she co-wrote the book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter and penned ‘many original songs’ and ‘included all your favorites’ too
The literal rags-to-riches story will take audiences on a journey through the life of Dolly ‘from her barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood’
Parton did not reveal which three actresses were chosen to play her after their national casting call, but she joked: ‘I wish I had three of me a lot of times, the way I work!’
The 10-time Grammy winner previously earned a Tony Award nomination for composing the music to the Broadway musical 9 to 5 which ran in 2009 at Manhattan’s Marquis Theatre
Dolly’s 1984 song With Bells On was also featured in the Broadway musical Candles, Snow & Mistletoe, which ran in 1993 at the Palace Theatre
Parton flaunted her busty-yet-petite 5ft figure in a plunging white top, which exposed her black lacy bra, and a leggy leather maxi-skirt designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers
The godmother of Miley Cyrus – who relies on wig master Cheryl Riddle – wore her platinum-blonde locks in a fringed shag and her suspiciously-plump pout and unlined complexion were fully glossed and contoured
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