Who will play Dolly Parton in her 'Hello, I'm Dolly' Broadway musical? Everything we know so far

Dolly Parton's new Broadway musical called "Hello, I'm Dolly" is currently traveling from page to stage.

The upcoming musical, produced by Parton and following her life and music career, has been the subject of rumors for over a decade.

As fans patiently wait for more musical updates, facts continue to trickle out about the show. Just last week, the news dropped that a director had signed onto direct the production.

Here's everything we know so far about "Hello, I'm Dolly," from casting and opening dates to the show's soundtrack.

When did Dolly Parton announce she was writing a musical?

Dolly Parton officially announced her new musical "Hello, I'm Dolly" on June 6 at CMA Fest in Nashville.

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She said the score would have both fan favorites and new original tunes.

Who worked with Dolly Parton to produce her new Broadway musical?

Parton is partnering with ATG Productions to produce the musical "Hello, I'm Dolly," whose name comes from Parton's first studio album released in 1967.

Parton, Adam Speers of ATG Productions, and Danny Nozell of CTK Enterprises are on the musical's team.

“I first had the pleasure of working with Dolly Parton in 2019 when she trusted us to develop a new version of her musical '9 to 5' for London’s West End," Speers said.

"I had always heard she wanted to do a musical based on her life, so when she asked if I would be interested in producing it, I was bowled over," he said.

"As the world knows, Dolly is a magical blend of talent, hard work, intelligence, charm, wit, and a gigantically big heart. I’m thrilled we’re going to bring her inspiring story to Broadway.”

The musical will feature a score written by Parton, with some new tunes she wrote just for the musical.

The book is written by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, a writer and film producer known for TV specials on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Schlatter worked alongside Parton once already as a writer on Parton's "Christmas on the Square" film in 2020.

When is the Dolly Parton musical 'Hello, I'm Dolly' opening on Broadway?

"Hello, I'm Dolly" will open on Broadway in 2026, a statement on Parton's website said.

Who is directing the new Dolly Parton musical?

On July 2, Parton announced that Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher has signed on to direct her new Dolly Parton musical, "Hello, I'm Dolly."

Sher won a Tony Award for his 2009 revival of South Pacific and worked on productions "The Light in the Piazza," "Awake and Sing!," "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," "Golden Boy," "The King and I," "My Fair Lady," and more.

Parton's musical will be Sher's first time working on a brand new jukebox musical.

"How lucky I am to have the great Bartlett Sher direct my 'Hello, I’m Dolly' musical," Parton said in a statement.

"When you decide to put your whole life up on stage, you hope and pray to find the right director with the right creativity and sensitivity to present all the blood, sweat, tears, light, love, and laughter that I’ve experienced over seven decades of living," she said.

"My heart tells me that Bartlett is the man and the director for the job."

What is the new Dolly Parton Broadway musical about?

"Hello, I'm Dolly" will feature both new and old tunes written by Dolly Parton as the plot follows her life story.

The country singer grew up in Sevier County, Tennessee and started writing music from a young age. After high school, she moved to Nashville to make it in the music industry.

Parton was spotted by Porter Wagoner and then the "Jolene” hitmaker spiraled to fame, both in Hollywood and on the musical charts.

Who is cast in the new Dolly Parton Broadway musical?

Members of the creative team and casting will be announced at a later date.

Who might play Dolly Parton in the new Broadway musical about her life?

When it comes to who could play Dolly Parton herself, whichever starlet is cast in the role has big shoes to fill.

Back in 2009, Parton said Broadway actress Kristin Chenoweth may be able to do her justice.

In 2020, Parton told Marie Claire, "Years and years ago, when I was going to do the Broadway musical—I never can get it to how I want it, but I’m still working on it. But I thought she’d be an ideal person to do that.

"But we’re all getting older now, so if we tell the parts...we may be able to have different Dollys. We’d probably have to have—as long as my career has been—like a little Dolly, and a middle Dolly, and then the older one. And she’d still be great for that."

Parton has also named Carrie Underwood as someone who could portray her.

Perhaps the multiple Dolly theory could allow both Chenoweth and Underwood to take the stage, but time will tell.

How can I stay up to date on the new Dolly Parton musical?

For more information, visit helloimdolly.com, where fans can sign up for alerts on the musical's updates.