Dolly Parton’s Broadway musical to open as planned in honor of her final wish
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s ‘Dolly: A True Original Musical’ will open on Broadway “as was Dolly’s wish,” following the country music superstar’s death at 80 on Tuesday, August 25.
Previews will begin December 7 at New York City’s St James Theatre, with the opening set for January 19, 2027, which would have been Parton’s 81st birthday. The musical tells the story of the country-pop superstar’s life and will continue with much of its Nashville creative team.
Dolly Parton’s Broadway musical gets 2027 opening date
In a statement to Variety, producers confirmed the Broadway dates, with music by Parton, including new songs and familiar selections from her catalog, a book by Parton and Maria S Schlatter, and Tony winner Bartlett Sher as director.
Choreographer Mandy Moore will also continue from the Nashville production. The producers are Parton, Danny Nozell, Adam Speers for ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions.
The show had its world premiere in Nashville in summer 2025 as ‘Dolly: An Original Musical,’ where Parton participated in multiple performances and the creative process.
Parton previously described the project as a passion project, saying, “My whole life has been a musical. A grand ole opera really and I can’t wait to present it to you on Broadway.”
She also expressed excitement about the director, sets, costumes, choreography, and music.
Sher recalled the strong audience connection to Parton during the Nashville premiere and said the musical would allow her to reveal her story “in her own words,” adding that “rhinestones were never her whole story.”
Parton had also participated in creating ‘Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony,’ a traveling concert featuring singers performing her songs with local symphony orchestras, with her appearing on a big screen. Its world premiere took place in Nashville in March 2025.
Dolly Parton’s final years shaped lasting legacy
Parton died in Nashville after what her representatives described as a “brief battle” with cancer. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video on behalf of the family, as had been requested by Parton some years earlier.
The family obituary described her as an inspiration through her music, songwriting, wit, warmth, kindness, philanthropy, and seven-decade career.
Her health concerns had become public in 2025. In mid-August, Parton said she could not attend a Dollywood appearance because of dehydration and dizziness.
She also postponed a planned six-show December residency at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace after doctors advised her to undergo several procedures.
In November 2025, she could not attend the Motion Picture Academy’s Governors Awards to accept the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Parton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and released her final album, ‘Rockstar,’ in 2023. She had 25 No. 1 country singles, many self-penned, following her early career with Porter Wagoner.
She frequently spoke about aging, saying she was “just getting started” before turning 80.
Parton also reflected on her legacy, faith, and life after death, saying she hoped to continue writing and singing in heaven and had recorded dozens of unreleased songs that could be arranged after her death so her music “will go on forever.”
