Estate Announces DollyFest
Dolly Parton's estate has announced a two-day festival, DollyFest, to be held in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027. The event will honor the late country music icon, who died at age 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer.
According to a press release, the festival was originally scheduled for January 2026, around what would have been Parton's 80th birthday, and was to feature her as a performer and host. After her health declined, the estate and organizers have pivoted the event into a celebration of her legacy.
Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises and one of the festival's organizers, said in a 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."
Nozell elaborated on the festival's concept: "A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly ), and, well, at this moment, Dollyfest is WDWD (What Dolly Would )." He noted that while fans are encouraged to celebrate in their own ways, a traditional memorial was not something Parton wanted. "So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly," he said.
Performers, ticket information, and specific dates for DollyFest have not yet been announced.
Funeral and Tributes
Parton was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday, attended only by immediate family. She was buried alongside her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. The Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park shared an obituary describing Parton as "a rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see."
The obituary praised her as "an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family," and noted her "unwavering commitment to making the world a better place."
Parton's great-niece, Lainey Parton, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram the day after the funeral. "From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough," she wrote, adding, "Because she couldn't have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers." She concluded, "I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny."
Parton's death was confirmed by her nephew, Brian Seaver, who shared the news on Instagram.
A Life and Career Remembered
Born in Tennessee, Parton was best known for hits such as "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." Over a career spanning more than 60 years, she sold over 100 million records worldwide and wrote more than 3,000 songs. She was inducted into Nashville's Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.
In May, Parton pulled out of a highly anticipated Las Vegas residency scheduled to begin in September. She had previously postponed her six-date run at the Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace from December 2025, citing "health challenges."
Following her death, several of her records re-entered the UK charts, including "Jolene" at number nine on the singles chart. A petition to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor has gathered more than 170,000 signatures, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced plans to do so. The Empire State Building was lit in pink as a tribute to "9 to 5," and the Royal Family performed a rendition of the song during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Other tributes include a commemorative orange butterfly sticker on University of Tennessee football helmets for the 2026 season, and concert tributes from artists such as Harry Styles, John Mayer, Ella Langley, Jelly Roll, and Noah Kahan.