Dolly's Broadway Journey
Dolly Parton's Life Story, Featuring New Songs, Set for Broadway Debut
Key Points
In Nashville's world premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical, three actresses portrayed Dolly at different life stages—Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb.
Director Bartlett Sher described the Broadway run as revealing the unfiltered story of Dolly Parton, emphasizing that rhinestones were never the whole story.
The project was publicly announced during CMA Fest in Nashville in 2024 with the working title Hello, I'm Dolly.
Ticket pre-sales began on July 8 with general sales starting July 10, and Capital One cardholders receiving early access.
Parton had health issues that led her to postpone certain live performances to focus on recovery while continuing to pursue new projects.
Dolly Parton is heading to Broadway. Her new show, *Dolly: A True Original Musical*, will begin previews on December 7, 2026, and officially open on January 19, 2027 — which happens to be Parton's 81st birthday. NBC News reported the show will run at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
The musical mixes Parton's classic hits with brand-new songs written for the show. It tells the story of her life in her own words. According to AOL, the book was co-written by Parton herself alongside Maria S. Schlatter.
St. James Theatre Gets Dolly's Unfiltered Life Story
Director Bartlett Sher is leading the production. He described the show as revealing Parton's story in a way fans have never seen. "Rhinestones were never the whole story," Sher said. The goal is to strip away the glitter and show the real arc of Parton's life — the struggles, the wins, and everything in between.
Head Topics reported that the show blends Parton's well-known catalog with newly written music. It aims to go beyond her stage persona and into the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped her career. Casting for the Broadway production has not yet been announced.
Nashville World Premiere Used Three Actresses for One Icon
Before Broadway, the show had its world premiere in Nashville. There, three different actresses each played Parton at a different point in her life. Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb each took on the role. The three-actress approach let the show cover Parton's life from childhood through her rise to stardom.
The project was first announced publicly during CMA Fest in Nashville in 2024. At that time, it carried the working title *Hello, I'm Dolly*. Streamline Feed noted that the Broadway version keeps the updated title *Dolly: A True Original Musical*.
Tickets Go on Sale July 10 With Early Access Perks
Fans who want seats can get early access starting July 8. General ticket sales open on July 10. Yahoo News reported that Capital One cardholders get first access before the general public. The St. James Theatre seats roughly 1,700 people per show.
Parton had previously postponed some live performances due to health issues, choosing to focus on recovery. But she has kept pushing forward with new creative projects. The Broadway musical is the latest in a string of ventures that show no signs of slowing down for the 78-year-old icon.
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