Dolly Parton's Broadway musical will go ahead and open on what would have been her 81st birthday, producers have confirmed following her death at age 80.
The country music legend died at her Tennessee home on Tuesday. Following her passing, producers announced that "Dolly: A True Original Musical" will begin previews in New York City on December 7.
The show will officially open at the St. James Theatre on January 19, following a sold-out run in her Nashville hometown last summer.
"As was Dolly's wish, the Broadway production of Dolly: A True Original Musical will begin previews December 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City," producers said in a statement.
Parton wrote the music and the book for the rags-to-riches show, and also served as producer.
The production will take audiences on a journey through her life, from her barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood.
Her own words
"Now, this isn't about a story about sparkle and shine on the outside," Parton said in a video released last month.
"It's about where I really come from, what I've lived, what I've lost, what I've loved and how I've found my way and told it in my own words and through the music that's been part of me every step of the journey."
She added that the musical features her big hits alongside brand new songs written specifically for the show.
"This really is a dream come true... and I can't wait to share it with all of you," she said.
The musical is helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Mandy Moore.
During the Nashville run at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Katie Rose Clarke, Quinn Titcomb and Carrie St. Louis portrayed the blonde bombshell at various stages of her life. The Broadway cast has yet to be announced.
Parents are advised that the musical might not be appropriate for children under age eight.
Health struggles
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner had previously canceled her six-date residency, "Dolly: Live in Las Vegas", at Caesars Palace's Colosseum.
In May, the singer admitted she had "always had problems with my kidney stones", and said her immune and digestive systems "got all out of whack" over the past three years and needed to be "rebuilt and strengthened".
"The good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments and I'm improving every day," the "Please Please Please" singer said at the time.
"Now, the bad news is, it's gonna take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit 'swimmy headed' as my grandma used to say."
She added: "And of course, I can't be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five-inch heels. And you know that I'm going to be wearing them!"
Parton had admitted she still had "some healing to do" but was under the care of "great doctors", saying: "I'm doing really well and they assure me that everything I have is treatable, so I'm going with that."
Legacy and tributes
The sad news was broken on social media by the "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" singer's nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.
The 75-year-old remarked on how she "opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent".
"By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history," Seaver said.
He added: "Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable."
A small, private funeral service will be held for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
Hall of Fame
The Backwoods Barbie sold over 100 million records during her career and broke 10 Guinness World Records. She still pulls 16.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
The godmother of Miley Cyrus, Parton was only a Tony Award away from elite EGOT status.
She previously earned a Tony Award nomination for composing the music to the Broadway production "9 to 5: The Musical", which ran in 2009 at Manhattan's Marquis Theatre.
Her 1984 song "With Bells On" was also featured in the Broadway musical "Candles, Snow & Mistletoe", which ran at the Palace Theatre in 1993.
