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The world will always love Dolly Parton. When she died on August 25 aged 80, the country music megastar left an unparalleled legacy not only as a legendary singer and songwriter but as an actor, businesswoman, philanthropist and unapologetic advocate for big hair, big heels and head to toe rhinestones.
Dolly’s loved ones said their goodbyes at a private family funeral in Nashville last week, but Brits will be able to say their proper farewells in a spectacular ceremony (of sorts) next year.
In true Dolly style, it won’t be a traditional public memorial. Instead we’re getting a huge, fabulous festival to honour her life and legacy. Titled DollyFest, her estate has said that it will be the ‘double-continent party of a lifetime’.
DollyFest will take place across two consecutive weekends in Nashville and London next year. It’s the brainchild of Dolly herself and was originally supposed to have her hosting and performing alongside other artists. It was due to take place on her 80th birthday in January 2026 but was cancelled before it was publicly announced due to the singer’s poor health. Now it’s been repurposed into the ultimate tribute to Dolly.
Danny Nozell, Dollyfest organiser and CEO of CTK Enterprises, said: ‘As far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly.
‘This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.’
The event is set to be a star-studded affair, though we don’t yet know who will be performing. More details on specific dates and how to get tickets will be revealed in the coming months.
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