In Lieu of a Public Memorial, Dolly Parton Wanted a Big Party. Her Estate Is Following Through on Those Wishes

Dolly Parton had one more big party in the works before her death, and her team intends to throw it. Parton’s estate has announced DOLLYFEST: The Celebration of a Lifetime, a pair of celebrations taking place across consecutive weekends in Nashville and London in 2027. Details about the celebrations, including dates, venues, ticket information, and lineup, have yet to be revealed. The idea predates Parton’s death. DollyFest was originally being planned as a multi-artist Nashville event around her 80th birthday, with Parton herself set to host and perform. Longtime manager Danny Nozell says a venue had already been booked and an announcement was ready before Parton’s health forced her to step away from the plans in 2025. “What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” Nozell said, adding that the festival was something Parton truly wanted to happen. Her family held a private funeral following her death, and no traditional public memorial is currently planned. “As far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted,” Nozell explained. “This [event] is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans ...