Country music legend Dolly Parton, who passed away at 80 on August 25 following a short battle with cancer, will be celebrated through a unique, star-studded two-day festival planned for London and Nashville, according to an official announcement from her estate released this Monday.
Named DollyFest, the event will roll out across two consecutive weekends in 2027, with exact dates to be revealed at a later stage. What many fans do not know is that the celebration traces its origins back to Parton herself, who originally conceptualized an earlier iteration of the festival where she would host and take the stage alongside fellow artists. That first planned event, scheduled for January 2026, was quietly canceled before any public announcement after Parton faced unexpected health complications.
Instead of a conventional public memorial service, which Parton explicitly did not want, DollyFest will stand as the official public tribute to her decades-long legacy. Parton was laid to rest this past Friday at a private family funeral held in Nashville, where she was interred beside her late husband Carl Dean at the city’s Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, confirmed by her great-niece.
Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises and the lead organizer of DollyFest, explained that the festival aligns perfectly with Parton’s personal wishes. “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 in the press release. He added that the event stays true to who Parton was, giving artists and fans across the globe space to participate, while also allowing everyone time to grieve and make preparations to join the celebration. The estate has also noted it does not discourage fans from holding their own personal tributes to Parton in whatever ways feel meaningful to them. “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.
Born in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Parton built a seven-decade career as one of the most influential figures in modern music, alongside work as a celebrated philanthropist and businesswoman. Her discography includes some of the most recognizable songs in country music history, such as *Coat of Many Colors*, *Jolene*, and *I Will Always Love You*. Over her career, she earned 10 Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and penned thousands of original tracks. Parton often prioritized her identity as a songwriter over any other title, once saying: “It’s my way of expressing myself. It’s my therapy.”
Since news of her death broke earlier last week, heartfelt tributes from celebrities, political figures, and millions of adoring fans have flooded social media platforms around the world, a testament to the far-reaching impact of her life and work. Now, DollyFest is set to deliver the large-scale celebration the icon always wanted, turning her original vision into a once-in-a-lifetime gathering for all who loved her music and legacy.