Festival honouring Dolly Parton to be held in Nashville and London in 2027
Dolly Parton's estate has announced a two-day festival called DollyFest, taking place across two weekends in both Nashville and London in 2027 to celebrate the late singer's life. The event will replace a traditional public memorial.
The estate managing Dolly Parton's legacy has announced plans for a two-day celebration called DollyFest, scheduled to take place over two consecutive weekends in 2027 in both Nashville and London. Exact dates have not yet been confirmed, but organisers describe the event as a "star-studded" gathering.
The concept originated with Parton herself, who had wanted to host and perform at such an event alongside fellow artists. An earlier version was planned for January 2026 but was cancelled before any public announcement, as her health declined.
Parton died on 25 August at the age of 80 following a brief illness with cancer. She was buried on Friday during a private family funeral in Nashville, laid to rest beside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, according to her great-niece.
DollyFest is intended to take the place of a conventional public memorial service. Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises and organiser of the festival, said the estate is not discouraging fans from paying tribute in their own ways, but noted that Parton herself did not want a standard memorial. He said it felt more fitting to allow immediate tributes to unfold naturally before carrying out the festival concept Parton had envisioned, giving people time both to grieve and to prepare.
A lasting legacy
Born in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Parton built a seven-decade career as a country music icon, philanthropist and businesswoman. Among her best-known songs are "Coat of Many Colors", "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". She won 10 Grammy Awards, sold over 100 million records worldwide, and wrote thousands of songs, once describing songwriting as her form of self-expression and therapy.
Since her death, tributes from celebrities, politicians and fans around the world have poured onto social media.
