Dolly Parton’s estate is working to bring her “dream” to life, just one week after the country music icon died from cancer at age 80.
In her honour, a new two-day music festival called DollyFest is now being organised in both Nashville and London next year.
The idea for the festival was originally planned for January 2026, when Parton herself intended to perform and host, but was delayed due to her declining health.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” said Danny Nozell, her longtime manager, explaining that the festival had been a personal dream of Parton’s for years.
Her team added that planning had already been underway before her health took a turn last year. Rather than hold a traditional memorial, her team explained that they felt it was more fitting to move forward with something Parton herself had envisioned.
The festival will include performances from multiple artists, and organizers say more details will be shared soon.
Beyond music, Parton’s influence has reached education and public health as well. She helped donate hundreds of millions of books to children through her Imagination Library, and in 2020, she donated $1 million toward research that helped support the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton also had several new projects already planned to launch in the weeks and months following her death. These include a travel-themed roadside stop honoring truck drivers, a new themed hotel opening in mid-September, a doll line launching online, and a museum dedicated to her life opening later that month. A coffee brand and additional lifestyle products are also expected to roll out in the coming months, along with a Broadway musical based on her life set to debut later this year.
Parton’s team confirmed that she died following a brief battle with cancer, though the specific type was not disclosed.
