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Dolly Parton Announces Broadway Musical Based on Her Life In the Works: “Hello, I’m Dolly”

Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt / WireImage / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt / WireImage / Getty Images

Renowned for her iconic voice, magnetic stage presence, and career spanning over six decades, Dolly Parton is set to captivate audiences once again, this time with a new autobiographical musical. The show, which aims to open in the spring of 2026, promises to be a heartfelt and entertaining journey through the life of the beloved country music star.

It promises to be a blend of new and familiar tunes

Dolly Parton at a microphone playing the guitar.
Country singer Dolly Parton performs onstage with an acoustic guitar circa 1974. (Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)

The musical, which is titled “Hello, I’m Dolly,” will feature a unique score that combines newly written songs with classic Dolly Parton hits, ensuring that fans will enjoy a fresh yet familiar experience. Parton herself is co-writing the book for the production alongside Maria S. Schlatter, her collaborator on the 2020 Netflix movie Christmas on the Square. This partnership promises to bring a deeply personal and authentic touch to the show’s narrative, making it a must-see for Parton’s admirers.

Broadway is a familiar stage for Parton

Headshot of Dolly Parton wearing a cowboy hat.
Dolly Parton in publicity portrait for the film ‘Rhinestone‘, 1984. (Photo Credit: 20th Century-Fox / Getty Images)

Dolly Parton is no stranger to the Broadway stage. She previously wrote the score for the stage adaptation of the film 9 to 5, which opened in Los Angeles and later moved to New York, earning her a Tony nomination in 2009. This new project sees her returning to the Great White Way, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a profound passion for storytelling through music. Adam Speers, a planned producer for the show, expressed his excitement, recalling his previous collaboration with Parton in 2019 for a West End version of “9 to 5.”

“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. 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,” he said.

It is an anticipated production

Dolly Parton sitting in a chair holding a microphone.
Dolly Parton speaks onstage during Kicking Off CMA Fest: A Special Conversation With Dolly Parton Hosted By Rachel Smith at Music City Center on June 6, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

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As the musical is still in its early stages, specific details about casting, creative hires, and the theater are yet to be announced. However, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a standout addition to Broadway’s lineup. Parton herself expressed her enthusiasm when she announced the show, saying, “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!”

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With such a dynamic team behind the production and Parton’s unparalleled star power, this autobiographical musical is poised to be a memorable celebration of her extraordinary life and career. Fans old and new will undoubtedly flock to see the magic that Dolly Parton brings to the Broadway stage.

June Steele

June Steele is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News