Dolly Parton “worked up until the day she died” to create projects such as an avatar show and a Broadway musical, her team say. Find all the information below.
The death of the music icon and philanthropist was announced on Tuesday (August 25). In the update, the singer’s team shared that the 80-year-old died following “a brief battle with cancer”.
The ‘Jolene’ singer had spoken publicly about her health in recent months, and in an update published last week, opened up about dealing with issues she had neglected while caring for her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, before his death last year.
Last week, it was reported that Parton was exploring “avatar performances” as part of several new ways to perform for fans in the future.
Now, her team have revealed the extent of her planning, saying in a new statement that the musician “worked up until the day she died”.
“She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy. Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come,” says her longtime manager Danny Nozell.
“As the leader of the team responsible for overseeing her legacy, we will ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfil are brought to life. Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact. If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it.”
They then shared an overview of some of the active projects at the time of Parton’s death, which include Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops, Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, Dolly Dolls, and a Dolly’s Life Of Many Colors Museum opening September 29.
Parton was also working on a coffee brand called Dolly’s Cup Of Ambition Coffee, Dolly’s Dog Treats and Dolly Bedding & Home Decor.
In the entertainment realm, a musical, DOLLY: A True Original Musical On Broadway, is set to open on January 19 2027 – what would have been Parton’s 81st birthday – while further details of a Dolly avatar show, a biopic, a docuseries and a scripted series will be revealed soon.
Countless tributes have poured in for the ‘Jolene’ singer since the news broke, including from Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Cyndi Lauper, Oprah, Barbra Streisand, Jack White, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kelly Clarkson, Debbie Harry, Shania Twain, Barack Obama, Beyonce and more.
Donald Trump also ordered that flags across the US be flown at half-mast for a full week in honour of Parton.
In an NME obituary for Parton, Jordan Bassett wrote: “As we all reel from Dolly Parton’s death, that glorious 2014 Glastonbury set may prove a balm. Introducing ‘Coat Of Many Colors’, her 1971 country hit about a patchwork coat sewn by her mother, this humble ‘farmer’s daughter’ paid tribute to her family’s love and resilience. Resplendent in her rhinestone suit, she embodied both qualities as a unifying icon. The world has become more divided since that set, but everyone will always love Dolly.”
