Dolly Parton’s Broadway Musical Debuts Amid Personal Grief

Nashville, TN — Dolly Parton is set to make her Broadway debut with “DOLLY: A True Original Musical,” which will open in New York City in 2026. The production, which previously ran in Nashville, showcases not only Parton’s life but also features her co-written script and original music.

Parton’s deep involvement in the musical is evident, as she poured her heart into the project. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, she shared that certain moments in the show evoke strong emotions, particularly those recalling her late husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in March.

“It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits,” Parton said about coping with her grief. “I’ll do fine, and I’m very involved in my work, and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me. But I’ll always miss him, of course, and always love him. He was a great partner to me.”

The song “From Here To The Moon and Back,” inspired by her love for Dean, is a highlight of the musical. Parton admitted that she cries every time the cast performs it. “I get very emotional. In a way, it’s kind of healing to relive my life like that,” she explained. “To sit back and watch it, instead of having to live it.”

Earlier this year, Parton also released a tribute to Dean titled “If You Hadn’t Been There” and planned a six-show residency in Las Vegas in 2025, which she later postponed to 2026 due to health issues. In addition to her Broadway musical, Parton opened a wine bar in Nashville and announced the upcoming debut of her Life of Many Colors Museum in Music City next year.

Parton reflected on the early days with Dean, whom she met in 1964 outside a laundromat. “I left two boyfriends back home, thinking that’s the last thing I’m gonna meet a boy… well, I got one that lasted 40 years,” she said. Despite Dean’s preference for privacy, she treasured their loving relationship, saying, “We were so good for each other because he’s a total loner. But we could just be in the house all day and say two or three words, didn’t matter.” Parton encapsulated their bond saying,”I’m a very spiritual person, and I just felt that was meant to be.”

As Parton embraces new projects and manages her grief, she looks forward to sharing her story on Broadway next year.