Dolly Parton Estate Announces 2027 DollyFest in London and Nashville
- Dolly Parton's estate has announced that a two-day festival titled Dollyfest will be held across two consecutive weekends in Nashville and London in 2027, according to official statements...
- According to a press release shared on Monday, the two-day event was originally scheduled to take place in January 2026 around Parton's 80th birthday.
- We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go.
Dolly Parton’s estate has announced that a two-day festival titled Dollyfest will be held across two consecutive weekends in Nashville and London in 2027, according to official statements and reporting from Variety and the BBC. The festival will serve as a celebration of the late singer’s life and legacy following her death at the age of 80 on August 25, after what outlets reported as a brief battle with cancer.
Dollyfest 2027 Dates and Evolution From Birthday Celebration
According to a press release shared on Monday, the two-day event was originally scheduled to take place in January 2026 around Parton’s 80th birthday. That initial plan would have featured Parton herself as a performer and host. However, after the singer pulled out of a planned Las Vegas residency earlier in 2025 to deal with health challenges, the event was postponed. Organiser Danny Nozell, founder and chief executive of CTK Enterprises, explained the pivot in a public statement.
We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. People frequently wonder what Dolly would do, meaning WWDD, and right now, Dollyfest truly embodies what Dolly would do, or WDWD,
Danny Nozell
Specific performers, ticket information, and exact dates for the 2027 events in Nashville and London remain unannounced.
Estate Decision on a Traditional Memorial
Parton’s estate addressed public mourning by clarifying that the festival concept replaces a standard public memorial service. According to estate statements covered by the BBC and Variety, organizers wanted to honor the country music singer through an experience she personally envisioned.
We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose. However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. Instead, it feels much more fitting for us to pause briefly, allow all the logical tributes to emerge organically, and subsequently roll out this festival vision that was genuinely conceived by Dolly.
Dolly Parton Estate
The estate noted that the festival format allows artists and fans worldwide to participate while giving everyone time to grieve and plan.
Career Legacy and Subsequent Tributes
Born in Tennessee, Parton built a career spanning more than 60 years, selling over 100 million records worldwide and writing more than 3,000 songs. Her signature tracks include Jolene, 9 To 5, and I Will Always Love You. Following her death, several of her recordings re-entered the UK charts, with Jolene reaching number nine on the singles chart.
Additional projects honoring the singer are scheduled to launch. A musical titled Dolly: A True Original Musical is set to premiere next year on what would have been her 81st birthday. Furthermore, a museum named Dolly’s Life Of Many Colours, referencing her 1971 song and album Coat Of Many Colours, is scheduled to open in Nashville, alongside a proposal from a Nashville airport to change its name in her honor.