DollyFest: A Global Celebration of Dolly Parton in Nashville and London
On Monday, Dolly Parton’s estate unveiled DollyFest, a two‑day music festival that will take place over two consecutive weekends in 2027, with events in both Nashville and London. The dates are yet to be announced, but the festival promises to celebrate the late star’s music, philanthropy and worldwide influence.
The idea of a festival dates back to an earlier proposal from Parton herself, who had envisioned a large gathering where she would host and perform alongside other artists. That 2026 plan was scrapped before the public announcement due to Parton’s health struggles, the estate said. The new format will instead honour her legacy with live performances, tribute acts and interactive fan experiences.
DollyParton’s estate chose to replace a classic public memorial with DollyFest. “It feels more appropriate to let tributes happen organically first and then honour what Dolly wanted—an authentic celebration of her work,” said Danny Nozell, founder of CTK Enterprises and organiser of the festival.
The late country‑music icon, who died at 80 on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer, produced a catalogue of songs that became cultural touchstones. With ten Grammy awards, over 100 million records sold and thousands of compositions, Parton remains a beloved figure in music and philanthropy.
Online tributes from fans, celebrities and politicians have poured in, echoing her mantra of “What Would Dolly Do?” “DollyFest is what Dolly would do,” Nozell added, underscoring the festival’s role as her final wish for a living, global celebration.
