The show will begin previews in December and open on Parton’s 81st birthday.
NEW YORK — Dolly Parton is bringing her life story to Broadway, announcing that “Dolly: A True Original Musical” will begin previews Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre before opening Jan. 19, 2027.
The announcement gives Parton a major New York stage project as she continues to recover from health problems that have kept her from live concerts. The 80-year-old singer, songwriter and businesswoman has said she is improving, but not yet strong enough for the demands of a full performance schedule. The Broadway production now becomes one of her largest public projects since she canceled her planned Las Vegas residency.
The musical will tell Parton’s story from her childhood in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to her rise as one of country music’s most famous voices. The production will include well-known songs such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors,” along with new music written for the stage. Parton said the show has been “a lifetime in the works” and will present her story through the songs that shaped her career.
Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher will direct the Broadway production, with Mandy Moore handling choreography. Parton wrote the book with Maria S. Schlatter. The show is scheduled for the St. James Theatre after a Nashville world premiere that helped set the path for the Broadway run. Casting for the New York production has not been announced, and producers have said more creative team details will be released in the coming weeks.
Parton is not expected to perform in the musical. Instead, the show will use actresses to portray her at different points in her life. That choice allows the production to move across decades, from her early years in Tennessee to her years as a recording star, television personality, actor, author and philanthropist. The structure also gives the musical room to show the private struggles behind the public image that made Parton a global figure.
The Broadway news follows a May health update in which Parton said she was responding well to medication and treatments but still needed more time before returning to the stage. She said the treatments had left her feeling “swimmy-headed,” making it unsafe to perform with instruments, high heels, heavy costumes and long shows. Parton said her health issues were treatable and stressed that she was not retiring.
The health concerns had already affected her concert plans. “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas,” a six-show residency, was first postponed after Parton cited health challenges. The shows were later canceled as her recovery continued. The residency would have marked one of her most visible live performance runs in years. Parton has not toured widely since 2016, though she has continued to record music, appear at special events and manage business projects.
Parton has also faced personal loss during this period. Her husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 after nearly 60 years of marriage. Dean, who avoided public attention for most of Parton’s career, was often described by Parton as a steady force in her life. She has said grief and health concerns shaped the past year, but she has continued to work on projects tied to music, theater and her Tennessee roots.
The musical arrives at a time when Broadway continues to turn major music catalogs into stage productions. Parton’s catalog gives the show a wide base, with songs tied to poverty, work, heartbreak, faith, humor and ambition. Unlike a concert revue, the production is being billed as a personal stage biography, built around Parton’s voice as a writer and storyteller. Its opening date, Jan. 19, will also mark Parton’s 81st birthday.
Tickets are expected to go on sale in stages, with early access beginning this week and general sales following shortly after. Performances are scheduled to run into 2027, though Broadway schedules can change. Producers have not yet announced the full cast, final running time or whether Parton will appear at opening night. For now, the next milestone is the start of previews Dec. 7 in New York.
Author note: Last updated July 8, 2026.