Dolly Parton's closest confidants have revealed that the singer's final days were spent creating a "roadmap" for her legacy, with planned projects including a hotel, a museum, and an original Broadway musical of her life and career.
"Dolly worked up until the day she died. She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy," her longtime manager Danny Nozell said in a statement to HELLO!
"Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come."
© Getty ImagesProjects that remain in development include a documentary, a movie biopic of her life, and a scripted series, while the opening of the SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville is scheduled for September 29, 2026, and Dolly’s Life Of Many Colors Museum has a grand opening, also September 29, 2026.
DOLLY: A True Original Musical opens on Broadway for previews on December 7, 2026, and the 80-year-old also has a collaboration with jewelry designer Kendra Scott launching in 2027; the release of her own coffee brand later in 2026; dog treats and a home decor line in 2027; and the release of Dolly On The Holly, a Christmas 2026 release.
© Getty Images"As the leader of the team responsible for overseeing her legacy, we will ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfill are brought to life. Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact. If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it," Danny added.
Dolly died on August 25, 2026 after a "brief cancer battle."
"After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones," a statement from her team read.
© WireImageThe star's nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death via a video message on August 25.
"Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest," he said.
"Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly – Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you."
© Getty ImagesDolly is survived by her extended family, including her nieces and nephews, and never welcomed children with her late husband due in part to a battle with endometriosis.
She underwent a partial hysterectomy in 1985 to alleviate the immense pain caused by her condition.
© Getty ImagesDolly was a follower of Christ who walked the walk, donating millions of dollars annually to initiatives such as the Imagination Library which expanded reading and literacy across not only the United States, but now also Canada, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom, to fundinfg COVID19 vaccines, and raising millions for Tennessee locals impacted by environmental diasters over the years.
She welcomed HELLO! into her world for an intimate interview in 2024, and revealed touching insights into her simple life and values behind the rhinestones.
© Miller Mobley/NBC via Getty Imag"I just think people need to be better to each other," she told us while at home in Nashville. "I cannot get it into my head and through my heart why people can't be nicer and better to one another."
"We're supposed to love one another and love our neighbor as ourselves, but that seems to be such a hard thing to do. Yet it doesn't take that much time to be kind... "It's my opinion that if you've been blessed and you're in a position to help and you see that. there's a need, you should do it," Dolly told us. "Otherwise, you just feel selfish: you just take and take and take, and it's all about me."
