One of Dolly Parton‘s biggest dreams is finally coming true. The country music superstar will be the subject of a new Broadway musical, Hello, I’m Dolly, opening in 2026.
“Hello, I’m Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage,” Parton says, explaining the inspiration of the new musical. 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!”
Parton is producing the musical in partnership with Adam Speers for ATG Productions, and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises. Hello, I’m Dolly will encompass a score by Parton, which will include some of her biggest hits, along with new songs Parton wrote especially for the musical, plus book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter. More members of the creative team and casting will be announced in the near future.
“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 says. “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 hinted earlier this year that she was closer to having a Broadway musical about her life and career,
“Right now, I’m working on my life story as a musical, and so going on Broadway and opening my show on Broadway, that’s been a biggie [goal] in my mind for many, many years,” Parton told People in January. “That’d be the one that I want to make certain I get done while I’m still kicking, while I’m around to stay involved in it.”
At the time, the Grand Ole Opry member gave a few hints about what fans could expect when her life was on display on Broadway.
“The whole first act is my early days before I went to Nashville,” Parton hinted. “The second act is about my days in Nashville and beyond. So the first part of the musical will be a lot like Coat of Many Colors with music and songs and will involve more details.”
Hello, I’m Dolly is finally happening, although the 78-year-old originally hoped it would happen years ago.
“I was just about to have it ready when COVID hit and Broadway shut down,” Parton revealed. “Then I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll do it as a biopic,’ and wrote up a script for that. But then I was like, ‘Nah, everybody’s doing a biopic! I’m going back to Broadway now that it’s open.'”
More information on Hello, I’m Dolly will be posted at HelloImDolly.com as available. Parton is also releasing a cookbook, Good Lookin’ Cookin‘, which she wrote with her sister, Rachel, which will be available on September 17. The book is currently available for preorder here.
Find all of Parton’s music and upcoming shows at DollyParton.com.