Dolly Parton’s life story, long a source of inspiration for fans and artists alike, is finally making its way to theaters in a highly anticipated film adaptation. Announced on November 6, 2025, during a special event at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the project promises to chronicle the country legend’s rise from humble beginnings in the Tennessee hills to her status as a global entertainment force. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bartlett Sher, known for Broadway hits like South Pacific, the biopic features a script co-written by Parton herself, drawing from her 2020 memoir Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. Production is slated to begin in early 2026, with a target release in late 2027 through Universal Pictures, aiming to capture the warmth, wit, and resilience that define her legacy.

Parton, now 79, took the stage at the Ryman—affectionately called the “Mother Church of Country Music”—to share the news with a crowd of 2,300, including family, collaborators, and longtime supporters. Dressed in a sparkling silver pantsuit from her own line, she strummed her signature guitar and quipped, “I’ve been writing my story in songs for decades, but it’s time to let the movies tell it with pictures too.” The event doubled as a fundraiser for her Imagination Library, which has gifted over 250 million books to children worldwide, raising $1.2 million on the spot. Parton hinted at musical elements, teasing original tracks alongside classics like “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors,” produced by her Butterfly Records label.

The film, tentatively titled Dolly: Dreamer in Rhinestones, will span Parton’s early years in a one-room Locust Ridge cabin, where she was the fourth of 12 children in a family scraping by on her father’s tobacco farming and her mother’s storytelling. Archival footage shown during the announcement depicted young Dolly at age 10, performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage—a moment that launched her professional path. The narrative will follow her move to Nashville at 18, her breakthrough with Porter Wagoner in the 1960s, and hits like “I Will Always Love You,” written in 1973 as a farewell to their partnership. It won’t shy away from challenges, including industry biases against women and her navigation of fame’s pressures, all woven with her signature humor and faith.

Casting remains a hot topic, with Parton opening the door for fresh talent. In a nod to her ongoing Broadway musical Dolly: An Original Musical—set for previews in fall 2026—she announced an expanded open call for performers to portray her at various life stages, from child prodigy to rockstar phase. Submissions, due by January 13, 2026, require a one-minute video of applicants singing a Parton tune, hashtagged #SearchForDolly. Early buzz points to multigenerational casting: a newcomer for young Dolly, perhaps echoing fan-favorite suggestions like Sabrina Carpenter, who collaborated with Parton on a 2025 remix of “Please Please Please.” For mature Dolly, names like Scarlett Johansson or Reese Witherspoon circulate, both of whom Parton has endorsed in past interviews. Witherspoon, a fellow Tennessee native, produced Parton’s 2020 documentary Here I Am and shares her passion for women’s stories.

Parton’s hands-on involvement ensures authenticity. As executive producer alongside Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner, she’ll oversee wardrobe—envisioning recreations of her 365-wig collection and sequined gowns—and soundtrack selections. “This isn’t just my story; it’s a love letter to dreamers everywhere,” Parton said in a Variety exclusive. The biopic aligns with her recent output: her 2023 rock album Rockstar debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country and Rock charts, and she’s voicing a character in an upcoming Pixar short on perseverance. Her Dollywood theme park, which turns 40 in 2026, will host a tie-in exhibit with props from the film.

The announcement comes amid a Dolly renaissance. Her net worth, estimated at $650 million by Forbes, stems from music (75 million albums sold), Dollywood (3 million annual visitors), and ventures like the Dollywood Foundation’s $100 million in disaster relief since 2006. Yet, she stays rooted: the Locust Ridge cabin, now a national historic site, inspired the film’s opening scenes. Parton’s philanthropy shines through; proceeds from biopic merchandise will fund literacy programs, building on Imagination Library’s reach in 21 countries.

Fan reactions poured in online, with #DollyBiopic trending worldwide and amassing 1.8 million posts by evening. Social media lit up with montages of her career milestones: the 1978 9 to 5 film that earned her an Oscar nod, her 1986 Dollywood opening, and her 2022 Kennedy Center Honor. “Finally—a movie that matches her sparkle!” one user posted, sharing a clip of Parton’s 1974 CMA performance. Celebrities chimed in: Miley Cyrus, her goddaughter, tweeted, “Aunt Dolly on screen? The world’s ready—I’m crying already.” Reba McEntire added, “From cabin to crown—tell it all, sister.”

This project fulfills a long-held vision. Parton first floated a biopic in a 2019 Elle interview, musing on Johansson or Witherspoon as leads. Pandemic delays shifted focus to Broadway, but Sher’s attachment—fresh off a Tony for To Kill a Mockingbird—revived momentum. Screenwriter Kent Jones (Manchester by the Sea) joins to blend narrative depth with musical flair, aiming for a runtime around 140 minutes. Early concept art, leaked from the Ryman event, shows Smoky Mountain sets built in Pinewood Studios, with CGI enhancing 1960s Nashville recreations.

Broader cultural impact looms large. The film arrives as biopics dominate: Tina (2021) and Rocketman (2019) grossed over $200 million each, proving appetite for musical lives. Parton’s story, emphasizing self-made success and kindness, fits the zeitgeist—her 2024 wildfire relief efforts raised $5 million in days. It also spotlights women in country: only 20% of Nashville songwriters are female, per a 2025 CMA report, and Parton’s trailblazing could inspire mentorship programs.

Challenges ahead include balancing reverence with candor. Parton, married to Carl Dean since 1966, keeps personal details private, but the script teases insights into their low-key life and her faith’s role in perseverance. No lead actress is locked yet, but Parton joked, “Whoever plays me better love butterflies and big hair—or they’re out!”

As production ramps, tie-ins multiply. A companion album, Dolly Unscripted, drops in spring 2026 with demos from her archives. Dollywood’s Chasing Rainbows Museum expands with biopic artifacts, and Netflix eyes a docuseries on the making-of. Parton’s team projects $150 million opening weekend, rivaling Bohemian Rhapsody‘s haul.

Parton’s ethos endures: “Find the good and praise it.” From that one-room cabin—where she penned her first song at 5—to CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2025, her arc inspires. This biopic isn’t just a film; it’s a testament to grit, grace, and glitter. As she signed off at the Ryman, strumming “Coat of Many Colors,” the crowd sang along—a preview of the magic to come.

Expect trailers by mid-2026, with premieres at Cannes or TIFF. For now, fans can revisit her world via Here I Am on Netflix or Dollywood visits. Dolly Parton’s tale, once whispered in mountain hollers, now echoes on the big screen—proof that dreams, like rhinestones, catch every light.