Broadway has had great success with "Hello, Dolly." Now get ready for "Hello, I'm Dolly."
Dolly Parton is composing new songs to complement her past hits and co-writing a stage story inspired by her life for a musical she aims to bring to Broadway in 2026.
"I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites in it 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," she said in a statement.
Parton is collaborating with Maria S. Schlatter on the story. Schlatter, who won an Emmy for producing Netflix's "Christmas on the Square," which starred Christine Baranski, will be her co-writer.
"Hello, I'm Dolly" takes its name from Parton's debut album released in 1967, featuring songs like "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy."
Parton has become a beloved figure in American culture, starring in movies, writing books, earning Grammys, becoming the first country artist to be named MusiCares Person of the Year, and donating $1 million for coronavirus research.
With 52 Grammy nominations and 11 wins, she is the second-most nominated woman in Grammy history, trailing only behind Beyoncé, who has 79 nominations and 24 wins. Parton received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award a decade ago.
She has a rich catalog of hits to draw from, including three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 — "9 to 5," "Here You Come Again," and "Islands in the Stream." Additionally, she has 25 No. 1 Hot Country songs such as "Yellow Roses," "Think About Love," "Tennessee Homesick Blues," and "Jolene."
This isn't the first time Parton's music has been featured on Broadway. A stage version of "9 to 5" debuted in 2009 starring Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and Allison Janney, and her song "With Bells On" was included in the 1993 Christmas special "Candles, Snow & Mistletoe."
Parton's upcoming show will join the ranks of other musician bios on Broadway, featuring artists like Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys, Michael Jackson, Carole King, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
She will join pop and rock legends such as Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, The Go-Gos, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Edie Brickell, Trey Anastasio, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and Bono and The Edge, all of whom have created Broadway scores.
"Hello, I’m Dolly" will be produced by Parton, Adam Speers for ATG Productions, and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises.
