The show will go on for the Dolly Parton Broadway musical.
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Variety confirmed with the producers of Dolly: A True Original Musical that previews will begin on Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City, "as was Dolly's wish." The show will open on Jan. 19, which would have been her 81st birthday.
What Is the Dolly Parton Musical About?
Dolly: A True Original Musical had its world premiere last year in Nashville. Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher is directing the production. The musical follows Parton's journey from the Great Smoky Mountains to iconic musician. It was a story she was determined to tell.
"My whole life has been a musical. A grand ole opera really, and I can't wait to present it to you on Broadway," Parton said in a statement released last month. "I hope you enjoy watching as much as I've enjoyed livin' it."
The musical will tell Parton's story in three different eras, with a different actress taking on each segment.
"Dolly has never really shared her story before. She's offered glimpses and peeks," Sher said last month. "But this musical allows her to reveal the unfiltered story in her own words. As we prepare to come to Broadway, we're thrilled to show that rhinestones were never her whole story."
Parton Was Involved In Every Aspect of Production
Parton had a hand in every aspect of the production of Dolly: A True Original Musical, from the casting and script to writing the songs.
"I just thought it was a good story to tell," she said in 2025. "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."
Even though the musical is about her life, Parton said it was bittersweet to see her story unfold onstage.
"It was very emotional, just to watch the whole thing," she said. "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."
