Dolly Parton Admits ‘Mixed Emotions’ Over Upcoming Musical

Dolly Parton opened up on how she is feeling ahead of her musical “Dolly: An Official Musical” that is set to debut in a couple of months.

The country music legend spoke with PEOPLE on Friday, May 30 to discuss how it feels to watch her life play out on the stage.

“I have a lot of mixed emotions about the whole thing,” she began. “It was very emotional, you know, just to watch the whole thing. When it started, I’d cry some, and then I’d laugh some, and I think, ‘Oh, my Lord, why did I do that?’ Or just, ‘How did I ever have the time to do all that?’ So you have a lot of mixed emotions and have thoughts about every part of it.”

The Musical Will Feature New & Classic Tunes

Parton told the outlet the musical will be filled with her hits, but with some new music mixed in as well.

“I wrote a lot of the original songs, in addition to the fact that we will be using the hit songs that people know, telling the stories and the timeline and when they’re recorded,” she said. “But actually, I’ve been working on it for years, and it does feel good to finally have it almost here.”

The musical is set to have its world premiere July 18 at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, with opening day set for August 8. The final showing is currently set for August 31. However, the show already has plans for a Broadway transfer in 2026.

Parton had a message for fans on the show’s website, “I’ve lived my whole life to see this show on stage. I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites as well. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap, you’ll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol’ Opera. Pun and fun intended.”

The Musical Will Feature 3 Dollys

The show will showcase the life and career of Parton which will be told in a non-linear story.

While Parton herself will not be in the musical, she will be portrayed by three different actress and different stages in her life.

Parton dished on having three versions of herself at a press conference for the media in January, according to Taste of Country.

“I’ve lived so many lives. Look at the age I am now, I started young!” she jokingly stated. “We couldn’t very well just have one Dolly. There are so many songs, we had to divide it up. I wish I had three of me in real life!”

For the Nashville run, Parton will be played by Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis and Quinn Titcomb.