Dolly Parton Shares Her Goal Before She Dies

Dolly Parton, the iconic country-and-western legend at 78, continues to add accomplishments to her glittering career, much like the rhinestones adorning her famous stage costumes. Despite her age, she remains vibrant and has set her sights on a significant goal still awaiting fulfillment: presenting her life story on the Broadway stage.

In a recent interview with People magazine, the 11-time Grammy winner shared her ambition to turn her life story into a musical. Opening the show on Broadway has been a long-held dream for Parton, and she is determined to achieve it while she is still actively involved in the project.

The Musical That Almost Became a Movie

The project, currently untitled, was first hinted at by Parton in a 2016 Variety interview. Parton, who wrote both the music and half of the script, envisions the musical tracing her journey from a one-room cabin in impoverished Appalachia to the unprecedented superstardom she enjoys today. She hopes to see it debut in New York by the spring of 2025.

Despite briefly considering a biopic when Broadway closed its doors in the spring of 2020, Parton ultimately decided to stick with her original plan. She expressed her preference for Broadway, stating that she wants to seize the opportunity now that it has reopened.

Half a Century of Dolly

In 2023, Parton marked the 50th anniversary of her emotive hit, “I Will Always Love You.” The song, penned solely by Parton in 1973 and released the following year, swiftly climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, showcasing her skills and offering plenty of material for a musical that tells the story of her life.