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Dolly Parton Estate Announces DollyFest to Honor Late Country Icon

3 sources across 2 countries · United Kingdom · United States

Who reported this

  • The Guardian United Kingdom · Centre-left · Scott Trust Limited
  • BBC News United Kingdom · Centre · Public · Licence fee, royal charter
  • Associated Press United States · Centre · Non-profit news cooperative

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The estate of Dolly Parton has announced DollyFest, a star studded two day festival set to take place across two consecutive weekends in Nashville and London in 2027. The event will serve as a replacement for a traditional public memorial, which the estate says Parton did not want. According to organizer Danny Nozell, the festival concept was originally dreamed up by Parton herself, though an earlier version planned for January 2026 was canceled due to her health struggles.

Parton died at the age of 80 on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer. She was laid to rest in a private family funeral on Friday at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, where she was placed next to her husband, Carl Dean. Her great niece, Lainey Parton, and niece, Jada Star, have shared public tributes, with Star performing at the Grand Ole Opry as part of a tribute concert.

Beyond the festival, the estate confirmed that several of Parton's pending projects will be completed. These include a Broadway musical launching in New York later this year, a line of coffee grounds, a home decor collection, and the upcoming opening of Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel and Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville. The family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the Imagination Library, her organization dedicated to children's literacy.

How each side framed it

Centre-left
Emphasized the emotional family tributes and the continuation of Parton's various business ventures.
Centre
Focused on the logistical details of the upcoming festival and Parton's career achievements.

Sources

100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.