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Dolly Parton revealed 15 performers who will audition in person for Dolly: An Original Musical in New York City. The announcement on Thursday (February 13) arrives after thousands of singers took part in the widespread “Search for Dolly” open casting call. Parton shared snippets of each singer’s submitted audition on her social media pages. Finalists include:
- Kathryn Adeline – New York City
- Peri Barnhill – New York City
- Elyse Bell – New York City
- Alberta Brown – Halifax, Canada
- Haley Brown – Los Angeles
- Kylee Hennes – Richfield, Wisconsin
- Annelise Laakko – New York City
- Tasha Lefler – Newport, Tennessee
- Solo Lowit – Milton, Georgia
- Kindred Moore – New York City
- Norah Nunes – Houston, Texas
- Kelly O’Brien – Aldbury, Tring, United Kingdom
- Tricia Paoluccio – California
- Cecilia Petrush – New York City
- Madeline Powell – New York City
Parton recently announced that the original Broadway musical about her life and legendary career will make its debut at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University over the summer in Nashville, Tennessee. The show will move to Broadway in New York City in 2026. Parton, 79, is teaming up with Maria S. Schlatter to write the music and lyrics for the Bartlett Sher-directed production.
“I actually have always wanted to do my life story as a musical, and I just thought that I wanted to see it done while I’m still around to be able to oversee it and make sure that it’s done properly, in a way that I would want to see it, rather than to wait ’til I’m gone and let somebody else decide how they thing it should be done. So, I thought that this was something I needed to do, and certainly wanted to do,” Parton said when she announced Dolly: An Original Musical would make its debut in Music City, plus the “Dolly U” initiative at Belmont University. The musical will include some of Parton’s most beloved hits — including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and more — plus original music.
Tickets are now available for Dolly: An Original Musical at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University. The musical will premiere in Nashville from July 18 through August 17, 2025.