This year's CMA Fest in Nashville kicked off with music icon Dolly Parton spilling the details on several projects she has in the works — namely, a Broadway musical as well as a hotel.
“It's true, I'm going to have a hotel here in Nashville, and a museum too,” Parton told the crowd.
The country icon has officially unveiled her upcoming Songteller Hotel in Nashville, which will be located at 3rd and Commerce in downtown Nashville. The hotel will also feature a Dolly Parton museum that will feature memorabilia from her career and many of her fashionable outfits, including a replica of Parton's “Coat of Many Colors,” which inspired her song of the same name.
The hotel is named after Parton's book 2020 Songteller: My Life in Songwritten with author-journalist Robert K. Oermann.
“When we were looking at the property, you know how sometimes you feel like you get a little divine sign,” Parton said during the event, which was hosted by Entertainment Tonightby Rachel Smith. “We were walking and it was an empty room. There was a table and of all things, there was the book Singer and we thought that must be a sign and we thought it would be a good name.”
Parton, of course, is no stranger to hotel creation — the singer, songwriter and business mogul's Dollywood theme park includes Dreammore Resort, which opened in 2015, and Heartsong Lodge and Resort, which opened in 2023.
Parton also announced her upcoming appearance Broadway musical, Hello, I'm Dolly: An Original Musicalit's set to open in 2026. Parton says she fondly calls it “a Grand Ole Opera.”
“I've been trying for years, how to make my life story and make sense of it. I had to write some original music. I hope you'll laugh and cry,” Parton said.
The musical will trace Parton's life story from growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee before moving to Nashville to pursue music. The musical will chronicle her early solo hits, her work with Porter Wagoner and her rise as an international Country Music Hall of Famer with 25 No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs hits. as well as a multifaceted artist through her work in film and television.
The musical will be produced by Parton, Adam Speers (ATG Productions) and Danny Nozell (CTK Enterprises) and is named after Parton's first studio album, which was released in 1967. Hi, I'm Dolly will feature a score by Parton featuring some of her biggest hits as well as new songs she has written especially for the musical, and a book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter.
Additionally, Parton revealed the release of Dolly Wines (which kicks off with a Dolly 2023 California chardonnay) and cookbook Good Cookingwhich she created with her sister Rachel. Good Cooking released September 17.
These business ventures extend to Parton's recent collaboration with Duncan Hines to launch a line of cake and muffin mixes, as well as Parton's recent collaboration with Krispy Kreme for the limited-time Dolly Parton Southern Sweets Donut Collection.
Parton also recently revealed her upcoming family album Smoky Mountain DNA–Family, Faith and Fablesreleased in November.
Meanwhile, Parton told Smith she doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
“Not today,” Parton quipped. “Maybe one day it will be necessary. I have always said that if my husband was in good health and needed me, I would retire — and so would my health. But I kind of dreamed myself into a corner and I have to be responsible for that. I might back off a little now and then, but not today.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dolly-parton-broadway-musical-nashville-hotel-1235702584/