Dolly Parton's Final Words: Keep Going!

Ten days before her passing on August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton shared her final wishes with the creative team of her upcoming Broadway musical, "Dolly: A True Original Musical." Lead producer Adam Speers and director Bartlett Sher recounted Parton's emphatic plea to "keep going" and emphasized that "This is the show that I want to be on Broadway!"

Parton was intensely involved in the production, often being the first to arrive and last to leave. She made time for one-on-one conversations with every actor and would spontaneously join in playing music. The Grammy winner also wrote a new song for the show, titled "Mountain Girl."

The musical, which will feature three actresses portraying different stages of Parton's life, is set to begin performances on December 7, 2026, with its official opening on January 19, 2027. The production also includes actors portraying her early collaborator Porter Wagoner and her husband, Carl Dean.