Dolly Parton kicked off CMA Fest in her native Nashville on Thursday by announcing she’s ‘finally developing’ Hello, I’m Dolly: An Original Musical for the Broadway stage in 2026.
‘Very excited about that, so you’ll get to know all my life up to now, and it’s not a jukebox musical,’ the 78-year-old national treasure said onstage the Music City Center.
‘I Wouldn’t Be Here If You Hadn’t Been There. And I mean that. And that happens to be the name of one of the songs that’s going to be in my new Broadway musical.’
Dolly – who gets 20.1M monthly listeners on Spotify – has been writing the book, music, and lyrics ‘for several years’ on the musical, which is named after her first studio album released in 1967.
Parton is co-writing the book with Maria S. Schlatter, the Emmy-winning executive producer of her 2020 Netflix film Christmas on the Square.
Dolly Parton kicked off CMA Fest in her native Nashville on Thursday by announcing she’s ‘finally developing’ Hello, I’m Dolly: An Original Musical for the Broadway stage in 2026
The 78-year-old national treasure said onstage the Music City Center: ‘Very excited about that, so you’ll get to know all my life up to now, and it’s not a jukebox musical’
‘I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites in it as well,’ the 11-time Grammy winner said in the press release.
‘You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap, you’ll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol’ Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don’t miss it.’
Hello, I’m Dolly should not be confused with the 2023 West End jukebox musical Here You Come Again, which is currently on tour in England.
Dolly is reuniting with Adam Speers, who produced the Broadway musical 9 to 5 which ran in 2009 at Manhattan’s Marquis Theatre, and she earned a Tony Award nomination for composing the music.
‘I first had the pleasure of working with Dolly Parton in 2019 when she trusted us to develop a new version of her musical 9 to 5 for London’s West End,’ Speers said in a press release.
‘I had always heard she wanted to do a musical based on her life, so when she asked if I would be interested in producing it, I was bowled over. As the world knows, Dolly is a magical blend of talent, hard work, intelligence, charm, wit, and a gigantically big heart. I’m thrilled we’re going to bring her inspiring story to Broadway.’
Parton’s 1984 song With Bells On was also featured in the Broadway musical Candles, Snow & Mistletoe, which ran in 1993 at the Palace Theatre.
For her appearance, the legendary country crooner flaunted her busty-yet-petite 5ft figure in a white fitted zip-up jacket and matching calf-flashing pants adorned with silver chains designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers.
Parton continued: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Here If You Hadn’t Been There. And I mean that. And that happens to be the name of one of the songs that’s going to be in my new Broadway musical’
Dolly has been writing the book, music, and lyrics ‘for several years’ on the musical, which is named after her first studio album released in 1967
Parton is co-writing the book with Maria S. Schlatter, the Emmy-winning executive producer of her 2020 Netflix film Christmas on the Square
the 11-time Grammy winner said in the press release: ‘I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites in it as well. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap, you’ll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol’ Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don’t miss it’
Dolly is reuniting with Adam Speers, who produced the Broadway musical 9 to 5 which ran in 2009 at Manhattan’s Marquis Theatre, and she earned a Tony Award nomination for composing the music
Parton’s 1984 song With Bells On was also featured in the Broadway musical Candles, Snow & Mistletoe, which ran in 1993 at the Palace Theatre
For her appearance, the legendary country crooner flaunted her busty-yet-petite 5ft figure in a white fitted zip-up jacket and matching calf-flashing pants adorned with silver chains designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers
Dolly – who relies on wig master Cheryl Riddle – wore her platinum-blonde locks in a fringed shag and her suspiciously-plump pout and unlined complexion were fully glossed and contoured
At CMA Fest, Parton also announced the launch of her Dolly Wines, including a 2023 California Chardonnay for $14.99, as well as the Songtell Hotel in Nashville, which will feature a museum honoring her six-decade career
The godmother of Miley Cyrus – who holds 10 Guinness World Records – was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999
Dolly – who relies on wig master Cheryl Riddle – wore her platinum-blonde locks in a fringed shag and her suspiciously-plump pout and unlined complexion were fully glossed and contoured.
At CMA Fest, Parton also announced the launch of her Dolly Wines, including a 2023 California Chardonnay for $14.99, as well as the Songtell Hotel in Nashville, which will feature a museum honoring her six-decade career.
The godmother of Miley Cyrus and her younger sister Rachel Parton George co-authored the 272-page cookbook Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals, which hits shelves September 17 and features over 80 recipes.
Dolly and Erica S. Perl co-wrote the 40-page children’s book Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas – hitting shelves October 1 – which is a sequel to her 2023 book Billy the Kid Makes It Big inspired by her song Comin’ Home for Christmas.
Parton – who’s sold over 100M records – will also release a family album Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables, which drops November 15.
The two-time Oscar-nominated songwriter – who holds 10 Guinness World Records – was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.