Dolly Parton is to be honoured at two DOLLYFEST concerts next year.
Last week, the country music icon died at the age of 80 following a “brief battle” with cancer. She was laid to rest in a “small, private” service held for immediate family.
On Monday, Parton’s longtime manager, Danny Nozell, announced that the inaugural DOLLYFEST events will be staged in Nashville, Tennessee and London, England across two consecutive weekends in 2027.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” he commented. “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.”
More information on tickets and specific dates in 2027 will be confirmed soon.
And rather than mourn her passing, Nozell insisted that Parton would be thrilled with the planned festivals.
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose. 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,” the executive continued. “This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
Earlier this week, Nozell confirmed that Parton had greenlit a number of projects prior to her death, including an avatar show, a biopic, a docuseries, a scripted series, a documentary about her upcoming DOLLY: A True Original Musical, and an animated series inspired by her Billy The Kid children’s book.
