Dolly Parton's Broadway Musical Will Proceed, Opening on Her 81st Birthday

Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon, has died at the age of 80. Her family announced she passed away peacefully at her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Despite her death, producers confirmed that her long-anticipated Broadway musical, "Dolly: A True Original Musical," will proceed as planned, fulfilling what they described as her final wish. The production will begin previews at the St. James Theatre in New York City on December 7, 2026, with an official opening night set for January 19, 2027. That date would have been Parton's 81st birthday. The musical had its world premiere last summer in Parton's hometown of Nashville, where it enjoyed a sold-out run at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Parton was deeply involved in creating the show, which she described as a "grand ole opera" telling her life story. She wrote the music and the book, alongside two-time Emmy winner Maria S. Schlatter, and served as a producer. The production features a mix of her classic hits, including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You," alongside new songs she wrote specifically for the stage.