Dolly Parton Has a Broadway Musical Coming (And Its Name is Perfect)

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Dolly Parton’s 1967 debut album was named Hello, I’m Dolly

Dolly Parton has announced a biographical musical, Hello, I’m Dolly, that will be coming to Broadway in 2026. The beloved star formally revealed the news on her social media pages today (June 6, 2024), on what was the 50th anniversary of one of her most acclaimed songs, “I Will Always Love You,” reaching #1. Her recording of that song—a significant hit for Whitney Houston as featured in the 1992 feature film, The Bodyguard—was released in March 1974, and topped the Country chart in early June. The musical is named for her 1967 debut album.

“Hello, I’m Dolly!,” she cheerfully—is there any other way for her?—wrote on her Facebook page. “I’ve been writing my life story as a Broadway musical for several years and I’m proud to announce we are finally developing Hello, I’m Dolly – An Original Musical for the Broadway stage.” Parton will collaborate with Maria S. Schlatter on the musical’s book.

The preliminary key art for the Dolly Parton broadway musical

Parton has released over 200 singles during her extraordinary career. 1970’s “Joshua” was her first to reach #1 on the Country chart. Among the other songs she wrote are such classics as “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 To 5” and “Tennessee Homesick Blues.” She holds the record for the most #1 Country singles by a female artist with 25.

In its reporting, The New York Times noted in its coverage that Parton announced plans for the show in remarks to CMA Fest, a gathering of country music fans in Nashville.

“I just wanted to say that I wouldn’t be here, if you hadn’t been there, and I mean that — and that happens to be the name of one of the songs that’s going to be in my new Broadway musical,” she told the crowd. “I’ve written a whole lot of original songs for it, as well as all the hit songs that you know.

“You’ll get to know all of my life, up to now” and that “It really does have a lot of story, a lot of family.”