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

Dolly Parton's estate is keeping true to her final wishes, which were to celebrate her life with a grand party rather than a traditional public memorial. The event, dubbed DOLLYFEST: The Celebration of a Lifetime, will consist of two celebrations held in consecutive weekends in Nashville and London in 2027. The exact dates, venues, ticket information, and lineup are yet to be disclosed.

The idea originated back in 2025 when Parton was planning a multi-artist Nashville event around her 80th birthday, with her as the host and performer. However, her health forced her to abandon the plans. Her longtime manager, Danny Nozell, stated that the festival was something Parton truly wanted to happen and that the estate will ensure it comes to fruition.

His team emphasized that this event is authentic to her spirit and provides an opportunity for artists and fans worldwide to participate in her memory. This doesn't mean the tributes have stopped. Since her passing at the age of 80, artists from different generations have paid homage to her on stage and online. Notable performances include Jack White and Ella Langley playing "Jolene," and Kacey Musgraves dedicating two songs to Parton during her Boston show.

In addition to this, Parton's team revealed that she had been working for years on mapping out unreleased music, books, television projects, merchandise, and other ventures that would continue after her death. This includes a song that will remain unreleased until 2045. However, for now, DollyFest stands as the largest public celebration overseen directly by Parton's estate.

The goal, according to Nozell, is to see through something "truly dreamed up by Dolly" and give fans worldwide time to celebrate her on her own terms. The estate promises to reveal further details about both events soon.