Dolly: An Original True Musical, a show about Dolly Parton, is open now in Nashville. The show, covering Parton's extraordinary life and career, is playing now at Belmont University's Fisher Center in Nashville, bfore opening on Broadway in 2026.
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It might not seem like an ideal time for Parton, who has been involved in every aspect of Dolly: An Original True Musical. Parton is responsible for the casting, writing the songs and script and more. The Country Music Hall of Fame member lost her husband, Carl Dean, earlier this year. She also has plenty of other business projects, including a new Nashville hotel, and her own line of wines and cosmetics.
But for Parton, she has a very good reason for doing it now.
"I just thought it was a good story to tell," the 79-year-old tells Country Now. "I wanted to tell it while I was still living. And, I could get it out there the way that I wanted it done. And so I thought it was a good story."
Dolly Parton could also tell her story in a movie. It's something she says she might do in the future. But for now, her dream of seeing her story on Broadway is almost coming to fruition.
"And since I write songs," she continues. "I thought, 'Well, I could write a lot of music for a show rather than just having it done as a movie.' Which we may still do that later. But I thought it would make a good Broadway show."
Dolly Parton Reacts To Seeing A Musical About Her Life
For Dolly Parton, it was bittersweet to see her life unfold on stage, celebrating the highs while also reminiscing on some devastating lows.
"I have a lot of mixed emotions about the whole thing," Parton tells People. "It was very emotional, just to watch the whole thing. When it started, I'd cry some, and then I'd laugh some. And I think, 'Oh, my Lord, why did I do that?' Or just, 'How did I ever have the time to do all that?' So you have a lot of mixed emotions, and have thoughts about every part of it."
A notoriously hard worker, even Parton concedes that putting the musical together was a challenge.
"I never knew so many things were involved in putting a Broadway show together," she acknowledges. "But I'm excited about it."
