Dolly Parton has been working 9 to 5 on an original musical. She revealed her news Tuesday morning in a press conference from Belmont University in Nashville.
Parton has said a musical was in the creation process for years, and this summer, “Dolly: An Original Musical” will premiere in Nashville at Fisher Center on campus at Belmont University. “Dolly: An Original Musical” will have a four-week limited engagement with preview performances beginning Friday, July 18. Opening night is Friday, August 8. The run will end on Sunday, August 17.
“I am Tennessee-born and raised, and Nashville has been my musical home for over 60 years,” Parton said in a statement. “So, this is the right and perfect place to present the world premiere of my life story as a musical. Right here in Nashville, at the beautiful Belmont University’s Fisher Center.”
“Dolly: An Original Musical” will feature music by Parton, including new songs and her biggest hits. Maria S. Schlatter wrote the book, and Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher will direct the production.
“Dolly: An Original Musical” will head to Broadway in 2026.
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Dolly Parton Said People Thought They Knew Everything About Her Life
“People say, ‘Well, I thought we knew everything about your life,’” Parton said from the stage. “Well, you do because I’ve lived long enough. If you’ve been watching anything, you know all about me.’ But actually, we will be doing lots of songs that you know (and some you don’t). I’m having a lot of fun working with people, and we have a wonderful director to help tell my story in a way that I think it should be. So, I’m very proud of it.”
Parton said she wanted people to leave the theater after her show feeling like they saw the person inside her — beyond the wigs, nails, and other exaggerated assets.
“I want them to see the person inside of me, the life, the things you go through, the things you truly do have to sacrifice,” she said. “Everybody thinks it’s all glamorous and glory and money and fame, but there’s so much more to a life like mine. There’s so much more to life (before you were successful) and the prices that you have to pay, the miles that you have to travel, and the sacrifices that you make. It’s a triumphant story, and I want ’em to go over there like, ‘Whoa, I’m glad I went to that. I feel like I went to church.’”
Dolly Parton Wants Fans to Feel Like They Went to Church
Parton, Parton’s manager Danny Nozell, ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions will produce the musical. Jim Carnahan and Carrie Gardner are the casting directors, and 101 Productions, Ltd. are general managers for the musical.
The musical did an open nationwide casting call, which Sherr said made sense because Parton’s story was everyone’s story.
“It wouldn’t have been fair if we hadn’t made this a possibility for everybody to have a chance,” he explained. “Casting is one of the most important jobs. We go through incredible details. How do you cast the lead or her father? How do you cast Port Wagner? You have to find exactly the right people. Opening up that process is only right. It only reflects how Dolly sees the world — that we’re all part of this.”
Casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Somebody said to do a great show, you’ve got to make them laugh, make them cry, scare the hell out of ’em and go home,” Parton said. “I just want people to go away feeling like they’ve been entertained.”
Tickets start at $40 and are available now at www.dollymusical.com.
(Photo by: Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty Images)
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