Dolly Parton’s estate has unveiled a two-continent festival to honor the late country legend in place of a traditional memorial.
The “9 to 5” singer, 80, died after a brief battle with cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, her family announced. Rather than a conventional service, her team will stage DOLLYFEST across two consecutive weekends in 2027 in Nashville, Tennessee, and London, England.
Danny Nozell, Founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises, confirmed the event had originally been Parton’s own dream for her 80th birthday celebration. The festival was pre-planned for January 2026 with Parton herself slated to perform, but she stepped back in August 2025 due to health challenges.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” Nozell said about the celebrations.
“Many people behind the scenes know that DOLLYFEST is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville. 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,” he continued. “A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”
Nozell added that Parton would “not have wanted a traditional memorial,” describing the festival as “something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
The official DOLLYFEST website bills it as “The Celebration of A Lifetime Star-Studded Two-Day Festival Honoring Dolly Parton to Take Place in 2027 Across Two Consecutive Weekends on Two Continents in the Two Global Music Capitols.” Ticket details and additional information have not yet been released.
Parton’s death came a year and a half after her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away. The singer had spoken openly about neglecting her own health while caring for him during his illness.
“Back when my husband Carl was sick, that was a long time, and then he passed, I didn’t take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of,” Parton said in an October health update.
Her family’s statement at the time of her death emphasized her lifelong generosity. “Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” they wrote.
The family highlighted her Imagination Library, which donated hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide, and her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University that helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine research. Parton also gave millions to wildfire and flood relief in Tennessee, pediatric cancer research, and educational scholarships for Dollywood employees and Sevier County students.
Parton’s death followed a rapid decline after she postponed her 2026 festival appearance. The type of cancer she battled was not disclosed.
DOLLYFEST is scheduled to begin in Nashville in 2027 before continuing in London the following weekend.