At 79, Dolly Parton could be sipping sweet tea on a Smoky Mountain porch, penning her next children’s book, or expanding her wine empire. But no—the Queen of Country just dropped the mic-drop of the year: a massive 2026 World Tour that’s already got Nashville’s honky-tonks buzzing louder than a banjo solo at the Opry. Announced via a glitter-bombed Instagram live from her Dollywood empire on November 20, 2025, the tour promises “a whirlwind of rhinestones, regrets, and redemption songs” across 18 arenas in the US and Canada, kicking off with a homecoming bash in her beloved Music City alongside Georgia’s own Trisha Yearwood. “Y’all, life’s too short not to strut one more time,” Dolly drawled in that iconic twang, her signature blonde wig catching the light like a disco ball. Fans? They’re not walking—they’re sprinting to Ticketmaster, with presales crashing servers and scalpers already hawking nosebleeds for the price of a used RV.

This isn’t some farewell lap; it’s Dolly unbound, a 50-date juggernaut (18 North American openers revealed, with international legs teased for Europe and Australia later) blending her seven-decade catalog of hits with fresh cuts from her long-rumored rock-infused side project. Picture this: “Jolene” morphing into a blistering guitar duel, “9 to 5” with a feminist fire-up for the TikTok generation, and “Coat of Many Colors” as a tear-jerking acoustic closer that leaves arenas soaked. The opener? A can’t-miss duet with Trisha Yearwood on February 14, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena—Valentine’s Day irony not lost on anyone, given Dolly’s eternal ode to love’s wild ride. “Trisha and I go way back; she’s got that voice that could charm the stars down,” Dolly gushed in the reveal. Yearwood, fresh off her own culinary empire glow-up, confirmed via tweet: “Saddle up, y’all—Dolly’s calling, and I’m answering with harmonies that’ll melt your boots.”

The dates? Locked and loaded, starting stateside before jetting north. It all ignites February 14 in Nashville (Bridgestone Arena, 18,000 seats—gone in 45 minutes flat). Then it’s a coast-to-coast blitz: February 21 in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena; March 1 at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center; March 8 in Raleigh’s PNC Arena; March 15 at Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena (a Southern swing nodding to Dolly’s roots). Mid-March heats up with Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena (March 18), Buffalo’s KeyBank Center (March 22), and Boston’s TD Garden (March 25)—Dolly’s first Beanpot bow since her ’80s heyday. April rolls into the heartland: Chicago’s United Center (April 5), St. Louis’ Enterprise Center (April 12), and Nashville’s second show (April 19, because one homecoming ain’t enough). May crosses the border with Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena (May 3), Montreal’s Bell Centre (May 10), and Vancouver’s Rogers Arena (May 17). Wrapping the announced leg: Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena (May 24), Portland’s Moda Center (May 31), and a grand finale tease in LA’s Crypto.com Arena (June 7)—though insiders whisper that’s just the appetizer for global encores.

Tickets? A battlefield already. General onsale hits December 1 via Ticketmaster and dollyparton.com, but fan club presale (join Dolly’s official squad for $35/year) started November 20 and sold 200,000 units in the first hour. Prices start at $89 for upper bowls, climbing to $239 for floor seats—affordable Dolly, as she insists: “No one’s getting shut out; music’s for everybody.” But the real frenzy? VIP packages at $349+, bundling premium seating, a private pre-show Q&A with Dolly (where she’ll spill on everything from wigs to world-saving), an exclusive photo op (pose with the queen in her bedazzled best), and a swag bag stuffed with Dollywood fudge, a custom tour tee, and signed sheet music. “It’s like crashing a family reunion with the Partons—tears, laughs, and maybe a hug that’ll last a lifetime,” one early buyer posted on X, attaching a selfie-worthy lanyard. Dynamic pricing’s in play, so expect surges: Front-row fever could hit $1,500 by morning.

The buzz? Electric with speculation. Rumors are flying faster than confetti at a CMA afterparty—whispers of unannounced celebrity guests that could turn arenas into impromptu jam sessions. Top bets from fan forums and blind items: Reba McEntire for a “Fancy” vs. “I Will Always Love You” showdown (their Opry Christmas magic still fresh); Kenny Rogers’ hologram for a ghostly “Islands in the Stream” revival (Dolly’s teased tech wizardry); or even a Beyoncé drop-in, fresh off Cowboy Carter synergy, belting “Jolene” in a mashup that breaks the internet. “If it’s Willie Nelson, I’ll mortgage my trailer,” joked a Reddit thread exploding with 50k upvotes. Insiders dish to Variety: “Dolly’s playbook is surprise—expect at least three walk-ons per leg, from rising stars like Lainey Wilson to vets like Chris Stapleton.” And don’t sleep on the production: Holographic backdrops recreating Dollywood’s wildfire glow, a 360-degree stage with pyrotechnic “butterflies” (Dolly’s fave motif), and sustainable swag from her Imagination Library tie-in—every ticket donates a book to a kid in need.

Dolly’s touring legacy is pure gold-rush legend. Her last full jaunt, the 2014 Blue Smoke Tour, grossed $30 million across 70 dates, blending country staples with Broadway flair. Before that? The 2006 Those Were the Days swing reimagined her folk roots with Joan Baez vibes. At 79, post her emotional Opry return honoring late hubby Carl Dean, this feels like phoenix fire—a woman who’s sold 100 million records, snagged 10 Grammys, and built empires from theme parks to vaccines, refusing to fade. “I’m not retiring; honey, the world’s my stage, and 2026’s just act two,” she quipped in a Rolling Stone exclusive, hinting at a tour-tie album dropping January. Health-wise? Dolly’s a steel magnolia—fresh off knee surgery, she’s vowing “no cane, all sparkle,” with mobility tweaks like elevated platforms ensuring she owns every inch.

The ripple? Country’s calendar just got Dolly-fied. This tour slots into a blockbuster year: Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind victory lap, Keith Urban’s Dogstar detours, and Outlaw echoes from Waylon’s relic tales. Fans aren’t just buying tickets; they’re scripting bucket lists—grandmas gifting grandkids, first-timers pilgrimaging from Paris. Social’s ablaze: #Dolly2026 trended global in minutes, with edits of her announcement set to “Eagle When She Flies.” Skeptics? None. As one X post nailed it: “Dolly doesn’t tour; she transforms lives—one ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’ at a time.”

Mark your maps, darlin’s—this Smoky Mountain sparkle train’s leaving the station, and it’s headed straight for your heart. Snag those VIPs before they’re dustier than an old 45; with Dolly, every show’s a once-in-a-lifetime hoedown. Who’s joining the ride? The world’s about to find out.