Parton estate to stage two‑day ‘Dollyfest’ in Nashville and London next year

The estate of Dolly Parton has announced it will press ahead with a festival the singer personally helped plan, scheduling a two‑day celebration in both Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends next year. The event, to be called Dollyfest, was conceived by Parton and will be delivered by her team following her death on 25 August.

Plans reflect the star’s own wishes

According to a statement from Parton’s estate, the festival was part of the singer’s own long‑term vision. Organisers say the scheme was drafted before her passing and that the aim is to create a large, multi‑artist event in Nashville where she intended to both perform and host. The original schedule had envisioned the festival taking place in January 2026 around her 80th birthday, but those plans were paused when Parton experienced health issues in August 2025.

The estate’s announcement signalled a different approach to memorials: rather than a single, traditional ceremony, Parton’s team intends to stage a festival‑style tribute that reflects her wishes and her work as a performer and curator of musical moments.

“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,”

The comment came from Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager, who emphasised that Dollyfest is very much in keeping with what the singer would have wanted. Nozell used a piece of acronymic shorthand to underline the point: if people often ask “WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?),” he said, this project represents “WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”

What is confirmed — and what is not

Organisers have confirmed a handful of core facts but left specific dates, venues and line‑ups for later announcements. The statement said the festival will take place across two consecutive weekends next year, with events in both Nashville and London. No specific venues, ticketing details or performer lists were released at the time the estate made the announcement.

Parton’s estate also reiterated the singer’s recent determination to remain active. A earlier statement noted that she continued to work until the day she died; among the projects still underway is the opening of Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, a music‑inspired lodging project that organisers say will open on 29 September.

Context and potential impact

The decision to stage Dollyfest rather than a single memorial reflects the scale and international breadth of Parton’s career. Rising from a small Tennessee town to global stardom as a country singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, Parton cultivated an image that blended warmth, showmanship and commercial savvy. A festival staged in both Nashville and London would underline that global reach, drawing on her layered audience across the United States and Europe.

There are several practical consequences of the estate’s approach. Festivals require months of logistical planning — venues, artists, production crews, security and ticketing infrastructure all need to be lined up. Doing so across two countries and on consecutive weekends will test organisers to balance high public demand with sensitivity to fans still grieving. The estate’s statement implies they intend to stagger tributes and allow time for planning and mourning before the festival events take place.

Quick facts

• Event name: Dollyfest
• Format: Two‑day celebration in both Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends next year
• Originally planned: January 2026 around Parton’s 80th birthday (paused due to health issues)
• Recent events: Parton died on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer
• Other project: Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel opening on 29 September

The estate’s announcement invites fans and artists to participate in a celebration that organisers say honours Parton’s own instincts. For many, Dollyfest will be the preferred way to remember a figure who spent decades combining populist appeal with careful brand stewardship — glittering, generous and constructed to be shared.