Dolly Parton has a lot of complicated feelings about her forthcoming Dolly: An Original Musical. The 79-year-old admits it's bittersweet to see the story of her life unfold, reliving both the highs and lows of her historic career.
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"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."
Parton has been hands-on in every aspect of Dolly: An Original Musical, including picking the actors who will portray her at various stages in her life. She also wrote plenty of new songs for the Broadway show as well.
"I wrote a lot of the original songs," Parton says. "In addition to the fact that we will be using the hit songs that people know, telling the stories and the timeline and when they're recorded. But actually, I've been working on it for years, and it does feel good to finally have it almost here."
The Music In 'Dolly: An Original Musical':
Parton has spent six decades in country music. So it stands to reason that Dolly: An Original Musical will be filled with just that - a lot of country music.
"It's got a lot of good country music in it," the Country Music Hall of Fame member hints. "[A] lot of good country stories. But it also has a lot of the big orchestration, all the things that I've always dreamed about having my songs and stories on stage, and telling my life story. I waited for a while, till I was this old so I could tell it. So I could tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth — so help me, Lord!"
Parton has worked on every detail of Dolly: An Original Musical. It's been an exhausting process, even for a notorious hard worker like Parton.
"I never knew so many things were involved in putting a Broadway show together," she acknowledges. "But I'm excited about it, and I'm anxious to see it myself."
Dolly: An Original Musical will premiere in Nashville this summer. It is slated to open ion Broadway in 2026.
