Dolly Parton’s musical has been in the works for years, and she made it official Tuesday.
“Dolly: An Original Musical” will premiere in Nashville at Fisher Center on campus at Belmont University. The 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 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.
The play is a dramatization of Parton’s life, from growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Sevier County, Tennessee, to moving to Nashville and building an internationally recognized empire.
“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,” Parton said on stage. “Everybody thinks it’s all glamorous and glory and money and fame, but there’s so much more to a life like mine. 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.’”
Videos by American Songwriter
Dolly Parton: “I Want Them to See the Person Inside of Me”
While some is known about Parton’s highly anticipated musical, many of the songs are still shrouded in mystery. Old and new songs are part of the soundtrack, but Parton and Sher both listed new titles as their favorites. The titles she has revealed are – interesting. One of them, in particular, is suggestive enough to make her Sunday school teacher blush.
Parton’s choice is wholesome. She calls it “kind of like the theme song.”
“‘I Wouldn’t Be Here If You Hadn’t Been There’ kind of talks about all the people that have been in my life, but it’s also a reference to God as well,” she said. “It’s all the things that it takes to make … It’s like, ‘I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there.’ That will kind of end the show. It’s a theme that runs through. I’m real proud of that.”
Parton plans to release “I Wouldn’t Be Here If You Hadn’t Been There” as a single.
“I felt very inspired to write,” she said. “The fact that I’m not on stage is so strange because working with all these people, we’ve been working with some of the actors filling in until we find all the right people. But just thinking, ‘I’m not even up there.’ I think, ‘Well, I need to be up there doing that.’ But Lord knows I couldn’t handle all that many shows in a week for sure.’”
Dolly Parton is Excited to Hear Other People Sing Her Songs
As a writer, Parton said it’s exciting to hear the people on stage sing her old and new songs.
Sher had to think about his favorite song. Initially, he chose a different one before he settled on “God, Sex and Music.”
“That sums me right up,” Parton laughed.
“I think it captures so much about who Dolly is,” Sher said. “It’s an incredible song. It comes at a really critical, beautiful time in the story, and it counters all the contradictions and all the ways in which she makes you accept and see who you are in this beautiful way. It comes at a really important point in the story.”
Fans can hear the songs when “Dolly: An Original Musical” opens its four-week limited engagement at Belmont’s Fisher Center on Friday, July 18. The musical is slated for Broadway in 2026.
Tickets start at $40 and are available now at www.dollymusical.com.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.