Dolly Parton’s legacy is taking new shape in Nashville, where her SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum officially opened on October 6, 2026.
The downtown destination gives visitors a new way to explore Parton’s life and career following her death on August 25 at age 80.
The opening comes as Nashville prepares for a major televised tribute and Broadway production that will continue presenting Parton’s music and story to new audiences.
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A new Dolly Parton destination in Nashville
The SongTeller Hotel is located at 126 3rd Avenue North in the heart of downtown Nashville.
The hotel was created through a partnership between Parton and Herschend, the family-held company that also operates Dollywood and related resorts in Tennessee.
It includes about 240 rooms and suites, along with two entertainment venues named Parton’s Live and Jolene’s.
The hotel’s design is built around Parton’s connection to songwriting, performance and the city where she established her recording career.
The adjoining museum occupies more than 20,000 square feet on the hotel’s third floor.
What visitors can see at the museum
Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum presents Parton’s journey from the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to international stardom.
The exhibition combines personal stories, stage costumes, career memorabilia, multimedia installations and behind-the-scenes material.
Its presentation is intended to show different stages of Parton’s life rather than focus only on her recording career.
Visitors can learn about her rise as a singer and songwriter, her work in film and television, her business ventures and her philanthropic projects.
The museum also includes retail spaces offering official Parton merchandise and collections connected to her music and public image.
The attraction describes itself as the largest single showcase of Parton’s life and legacy.
It follows the closure of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker, which ran in Nashville from May 2025 through October 4, 2026.
Parton’s charitable work remains central to her legacy
Parton’s public legacy extends beyond her music, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Imagination Library provides free books to young children and has distributed more than 300 million books worldwide, according to Parton’s official biography.
The new Nashville museum’s opening ceremony included children who have benefited from the literacy programme.
That choice reflects the role philanthropy has played in Parton’s career and in the way her team is presenting her legacy after her death.
Parton’s connection to children’s literacy will also be reflected on Broadway.
Broadway musical set for January 2027 opening
DOLLY: A True Original Musical is scheduled to begin preview performances at New York’s St. James Theatre on December 7, 2026.
The official opening is planned for January 19, 2027, which would have been Parton’s 81st birthday.
The production features music by Parton, including familiar songs and new material written for the show.
Katie Rose Clarke will play the adult Dolly, Carrie St. Louis will portray Dolly during her early Nashville years and 11-year-old Norah Nunes will play Little Dolly.
The production is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher and has a book by Parton and Emmy Award winner Maria S.
Schlatter.
Producers have also announced plans to provide 30,000 free tickets to New York City public school middle and high school students during the musical’s first Broadway year.
Television tribute planned for October
The Country Music Association will present a two-hour live television event titled CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton on October 21.
The programme will air on ABC and Disney+ in the United States and internationally, with availability on Hulu the following day.
Filmed at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, the special is expected to combine live performances, archival footage and personal stories.
The event will examine Parton’s work as a singer, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur.
Together, the museum, hotel, television tribute and Broadway production mark a shift from celebrating Parton’s active career to preserving and extending it.
For Nashville, the new hotel and museum add a permanent Parton-focused attraction to a city already closely associated with her music.
For fans, the projects offer several ways to encounter her work, from physical memorabilia and personal stories to live performances and stage interpretations.
Tickets for Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum are available through the attraction’s official website, while reservations are available for the SongTeller Hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Dolly Parton’s Nashville museum open?
Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum officially opened on October 6, 2026, alongside the SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville.
Where is Dolly Parton’s museum located?
The museum is located on the third floor of Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel at 126 3rd Avenue North in downtown Nashville.
What is included in Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum?
The museum features personal stories, costumes, memorabilia, multimedia exhibits and material covering Parton’s music, acting, business career and philanthropy.
When will Dolly Parton’s Broadway musical open?
DOLLY: A True Original Musical is scheduled to open at New York’s St. James Theatre on January 19, 2027, after previews begin on December 7, 2026.
When is the televised Dolly Parton tribute?
The Country Music Association’s two-hour tribute is scheduled to air live on October 21, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, locations, programme details and project information were checked against official Nashville, Dolly Parton, Broadway and Country Music Association sources.
Disclaimer: Opening dates, schedules and programme details may change, so readers should confirm arrangements with the official venues and broadcasters before making plans.