Festival honouring Dolly Parton set for Nashville and London

Dolly Parton's estate has announced DollyFest, a two‑weekend festival to celebrate the life and legacy of the late country‑music legend.

Set to take place in 2027, the event will be held twice, once each weekend over two consecutive weekends in Nashville, Tennessee, and London, United Kingdom. Specific dates will be released later in the year.

Parton had originally imagined a similar festival in 2026, but it was cancelled after her health declined. The estate confirmed that the concept was true to Dolly’s dreams and has chosen to honour her with a series of performances rather than a conventional memorial.

The festival, organized by Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises, will feature a lineup of artists who shared stage with Parton over her history, showcasing her songwriting talent and philanthropic spirit.

‘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,’ Nozell said.

Parton died at 80 on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer and was privately buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.

Since her passing, emotional tributes from artists, politicians, and fans have flooded social media, echoing the sentiment that DollyFest will be the expression of the question “What Dolly Would Do?” or WDWD (What Dolly Would Do).

In her seven‑decade career, Dolly Parton earned 10 Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and wrote thousands of songs, the likes of “Coat Of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You.” She once said that songwriting was her therapy, an essential part of her self‑expression.

The festival will replace a traditional memorial, reflecting Parton’s preference for a vibrant, celebratory tribute that resonates with fans across the globe.