Dolly Parton announces plans to tell her life story
Country legend Dolly Parton has announced plans to bring her music back to Broadway in 2026 as part of a new stage production.
The musical is titled Hello, I’m Dolly, which takes its name from Parton’s debut album which was released in 1967. In addition to featuring a variety of hit songs from her iconic career, which has been going strong for over 50 years, Parton is also set to write a collection of new tracks purposefully for the production.
For the show book, Parton has teamed up with Maria S. Schlatter. The singer-songwriter will also produce the project alongside her manager Danny Nozell and Adam Speers from ATG Productions. As of yet, an exact opening date hasn’t been revealed nor has a specific theatre in New York.
In a statement, Parton shared her excitement of the forthcoming project: “Hello, I’m Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage. 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!”
Meanwhile, Speers from ATG Production explained of his involvement and relationship with Parton: “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 went onto say how he’d previously been told the singer “wanted to do a musical based on her life” and revealed he was “bowled over” when “she asked if I would be interested in producing it”.
He added: “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.”
Although Parton is now retired from touring, she’s determined not to show any signs of slowing down. Notably, in 2023, she moved into the realm of rock ‘n’ roll with her appropriately named album, Rockstar, which featured guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks.
In a four-and-a-half star review, Far Out wrote: “Throughout the entire extended album, there is rarely a moment when the goosebumps dissipate. It is the kind of record that makes your jaw swing open at the sheer spectacle of it. Even in the first two tracks, ‘Rockstar’ and ‘World On Fire’, it’s like Parton smashes through who she’s perceived to be and becomes something a million times more powerful. ‘Rockstar’ is rock music on its grandest, most theatrical scale.”
Now, after conquering rock ‘n’ roll, Parton has another target in her mind: Broadway. As the opening date of Hello, I’m Dolly inches closer, more details will trickle out regarding the production, which looks set to be another ambitious project.
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