Dolly Parton is bringing her life story to the stage in a way only she can—with heart, music, and plenty of Tennessee charm. The country music icon announced that her highly anticipated Dolly: An Original Musical will have its world premiere this summer in Nashville before heading to Broadway in 2026.
The production, which tells the story of Parton’s incredible journey from a small-town Tennessee girl to a global superstar, will enjoy a four-week limited run at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Preview performances kick off July 18, with the official opening night set for August 8. Fans will have until August 17 to catch the show in Music City.
During a press conference held at Belmont’s Fisher Center on January 28, Parton shared her excitement about launching the musical in her home state. “It seemed natural and right for me to premiere the story of my life in Tennessee because I’m Tennessee born and Tennessee raised,” she told attendees.
Parton also revealed her personal motivation for taking on the project: “I have always wanted to do my life story as a musical, and I just thought I wanted to see it done while I was still around to be able to oversee it and make sure that it’s done properly, the way I would want to see it.”
Directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher, Dolly: An Original Musical features a book co-written by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter. Of course, Parton’s iconic music will take center stage, with a mix of her greatest hits and brand-new songs she composed specifically for the production.
The announcement of the musical’s launch isn’t the only exciting news Parton shared. She also unveiled “Dolly U,” a groundbreaking educational partnership with Belmont University. This unique program will give students hands-on opportunities to work alongside the professional cast and production team during the development of the musical. Courses on marketing, brand partnerships, and merchandising will also provide real-world learning experiences for participating students.
“I’ve had a lot of my relatives and friends go to Belmont. We know that this is a great school…everybody loves to learn about the business end of the music business,” Parton said, proudly noting that her niece is a Belmont alum.
Tickets for the Nashville premiere of Dolly: An Original Musical are now available at dollymusical.com or through Belmont’s Fisher Center Box Office. With the cast announcement just around the corner, fans won’t want to miss this historic debut that promises to be as bold, beautiful, and unforgettable as Dolly herself.