Dolly Parton Plans ‘Finding Dolly’ Contest For Her Broadway Musical
Peter Still / Redferns via Getty Images
Dolly Parton is actively involved in developing a stage production for which she has composed the music for and contributed to half of the script. Now, she wants to hold an exclusive “Finding Dolly” contest to cast her upcoming Broadway musical.
Dolly’s Longtime Dreams Unveiled
During a conversation with PEOPLE, the 78-year-old country music legend provided insights into the eagerly awaited Broadway musical based on her life and career.
She expressed, “Right now, I’m working on my life story as a musical, and so going on Broadway and opening my show on Broadway, that’s been a biggie [goal] in my mind for many, many years. That’d be the one that I want to make certain I get done while I’m still kicking, while I’m around to stay involved in it.”
Bringing Her Story To Broadway
Expressing her long standing desire to narrate her story through a stage production, the superstar hinted at the possibility of aspiring actors seizing the opportunity to portray her by participating in a talent search.
During a USA Today interview, Dolly disclosed that the production had been a dream of hers for years. Unfortunately, it was on the verge of readiness when COVID struck, leading to the shutdown of Broadway.
“I was just about to have it ready when COVID hit and Broadway shut down. Then I thought, “Well, maybe I’ll do it as a biopic,” and wrote up a script for that. But then I was like, “Nah, everybody’s doing a biopic! I’m going back to Broadway now that it’s open,” she told the outlet.
Fortunately, circumstances have shifted, and Dolly expressed her optimism in realizing that dream by “late ’25.”
The musical, which is currently untitled, isn’t the first time Dolly has graced Broadway. She previously composed the score for a stage adaptation of the film inspired by her hit, “9 to 5.”
Courtesy of dollyparton.com
“9 to 5: The Musical” premiered on Broadway at the Marquis Theater on April 7, 2009, and ran in New York until closing in September after 24 preview showings and 148 regular performances. The musical earned 15 Drama Desk Award nominations and four Tony Award nominations, including Best Original Score, during its runs in LA and NY. Following its Broadway closure, the show embarked on a tour in the United States and the United Kingdom, with various regional productions.
Her “Finding Dolly” Contest
To bring the project to New York City, the music icon revealed that she might even have hosted a “Finding Dolly” contest. It wasn’t just one Dolly under the bright lights of Broadway; the “Jolene” singer had expected there to be three performers playing her at different phases of her life, including a “little Dolly,” an “earlier years Dolly,” and “an older Dolly.”
Dolly said of the musical, “The whole first act is my early days before I went to Nashville. The second act is about my days in Nashville and beyond. So the first part of the musical will be a lot like Coat of Many Colors with music and songs and will involve more details.”
The Broadway musical “Dolly” certainly has a challenge ahead – filling not just big shoes but, shall we say, big hair?
David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
“We’re going to be auditioning them and trying to find them through different means. I think that’ll be fun for people, too,” Dolly continues. “You never know where you’re going to find them. They may never have been on stage before, or maybe in some local theater somewhere, but we’re going to look for them, and that’s going to be part of the fun, I think.”
Who knows, you might just become the next Dolly Parton and land a role working “9 to 5” in her Broadway musical!
News
Dolly Parton clashed with Savannah Guthrie live on air during a program about her marriage to her late husband when she tried to assert that she was a woman who didn’t lack for men – What led Savannah Guthrie to view her this way?
Today’s Savannah Guthrie Comforts Dolly Parton as the Singer Chokes Up Live on Air Dolly Parton recently made an emotional…
On a dreary morning in Olympia, Washington, as raindrops streamed down the windows of the legislative building, a decision that stunned many parents and children was made: the state of Washington would cut funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. With her warm smile and big heart, Dolly has delivered over 230 million books to children around the world, nurturing imagination and sowing the seeds of knowledge. But now, in Washington, families who once eagerly awaited their monthly letters are faced with disappointment and concern. Voices of opposition began to rise, from parents to lawmakers, and everyone is asking: Could this be the end of the dream of reading for thousands of children?
WA to Cut Funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program Washington State lawmakers have recently made the controversial decision to…
Back in 1990, in the dim glow of a hospital room, Reba McEntire held her newborn son—Shelby Steven McEntire Blackstock—in her arms. Though visibly exhausted, her face lit up with an indescribable joy. In 2015, she shared this precious photo on Instagram, calling Shelby “God’s greatest gift” and wrote, “The best day of my life.” For Reba, that moment wasn’t just the start of motherhood—it was a life-changing turning point. “I was pretty selfish until Shelby came along,” she once admitted. “After that, it wasn’t about me anymore.” Now, with Shelby all grown up and successful in his own right, their bond remains as strong as ever. On special occasions, Reba continues to post these sweet memories, leaving fans both touched and curious: Just how many beautiful untold stories are still waiting to be shared?
Reba McEntire Cuddling Newborn Son Shelby in the Hospital Is Such a Beautiful Photo Country music icon Reba McEntire recently…
Reba McEntire Opens Up About Her First-Ever Fight with Boyfriend Rex Linn – And It Happened Live on Air!
Reba McEntire Says Relationship With Rex Linn Is ‘Perfect’ Even Though They ‘Argue a Lot’ Reba McEntire recently opened up…
At the 2025 ACM Awards held at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Reba McEntire wasn’t just dazzling as the host—she also melted hearts with a tender moment shared alongside longtime boyfriend Rex Linn. The couple arrived on the red carpet in matching black ensembles: Reba in a sparkling black suit with thigh-high boots, and Rex looking sharp in a black blazer, jeans, and a pale blue tie. They held hands, exchanged affectionate glances, and radiated a bond built over three years together. Their romance, rooted in decades of friendship, blossomed during the COVID-19 pandemic when the two began chatting on the phone every morning. Their appearance together didn’t just steal the spotlight—it left fans buzzing: What other surprises might this power couple have in store?
Reba McEntire and Rex Linn Share a Sweet ACMs Moment Reba McEntire and Rex Linn have always been a charming…
TRULY REVELATION: Dolly Parton’s Truth About Not Having Children Isn’t What You Think — And What She’s Still Hiding Has Never Been Spoken Out Loud, Even After All These Years…
Dolly Parton Reflects on Her Marriage and the Freedom of Not Having Children Legendary country music icon Dolly Parton has…
End of content
No more pages to load
