Plans to celebrate Dolly Parton's life and music in Nashville and London with major events in 2027
The estate of Dolly Parton has confirmed that the official ‘Team Dolly-produced celebration’ in the singer's honour, Dollyfest will now take place in Nashville, Tennessee and London, England across two consecutive weekends – in early 2027.
What was originally planned as a multi-artiste event for January 2026 in Nashville and intended to feature Dolly as performer and host, will now move into a "global double-day, double-weekend, double-continent party of a lifetime".
Dolly died at age 80 on Tuesday, August 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after "facing a brief battle with cancer", her representatives confirmed to USA TODAY network just a few hours after her death. The death shocked not just the music world, but wider society which acknowledged Dolly's role as an American public figure, businesswoman, humanitarian and philanthropist.
For all of the heights she reached as a singer-songwriter and movie star, Dolly remained a modest caring lass of Scots-Irish family roots from the Great Smoky mountains of East Tennessee. Her unique musical talent and love of life radiated wherever she went!
Dolly was laid to rest in a private cemetery ceremony in Nashville last Friday, her family confirmed. Close relatives including surviving sisters and brothers from her 12-strong East Tennessean family were in attendance. Dolly was widowed on March 5, 2025 when her husband of 59 years Nashville builder Carl Dean passed away after a sustained illness. Dolly and Carl had no children.
Plans for the Nashville/London official tributes next year are already getting underway. “What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” says Danny Nozell, founder/chief executive of CTK Enterprises. “Many people behind the scenes know that Dollyfest is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville.
"We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say "WWDD ('What Would Dolly Do?'), and, well, at this moment, Dollyfest says WDWD ('What Dolly Would Do!').”
While the Parton estate acknowledges the anticipated events, shows, and programmes this autumn across the United States and abroad, including the United Kingdom, where she was a super icon, that will honour Dolly, Dollyfest next year in Nashville and London will be the party of a lifetime she wanted to share with the world.
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,” adds Nozell. “However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly.
"This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artistes and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
* More information on tickets and specific dates in 2027 will be forthcoming. Visit www.dollyparton.com
* Country megastar Garth Brooks is to honour the late Dolly Parton with "her own day". Garth said his Nashville-based 'Friends in Low Places' honky-tonk music establishment will recognise Friday September 25 as 'Dolly Day'.
On that date, all proceeds made at the restaurant/bar will be donated to Parton's 'Imagination Library', a free book gifting global programme for children the late musician founded in 1995.
"Whatever cash is raised will go to Dolly's passion," Trisha Yearwood, country singer and Garth Brooks' wife, confirmed. "This is 100 per cent about Dolly".