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Dolly Parton<\/a>\u2019s new Broadway-bound musical is finally here \u2014 and the Queen of Country kicked things off with rhinestones, charm, and a whole lotta Dolly.<\/p>\n On Friday night (July 18), Dolly: A True Original Musical<\/em> began preview performances at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville.<\/p>\n The show tells the story<\/a> of Parton\u2019s journey from a \u201csmall town mountain girl\u201d to international icon, and it\u2019s headed to Broadway in 2026.<\/p>\n But before the bright lights of New York City, the “9 to 5” singer wanted to give her hometown the world premiere \u2014 and of course, she made it personal.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Tennessee born and raised<\/a>,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cNashville has been my musical home for over 60 years. So this is the right and perfect place to present the world premiere of my life story as a musical.\u201d<\/p>\n Read More:<\/strong><\/em> 15 Heartfelt Country Songs About Tennessee<\/a><\/p>\n Never one to disappoint, the 79-year-old legend surprised the crowd by walking onstage alongside director Bartlett Sher to thunderous applause.<\/p>\n She thanked the cast and audience, then delivered a mic-drop<\/a> moment only an icon could pull off.<\/p>\n \u201cNow they told me to tell you, they have to turn off their cell phones\u2026 and they said to turn off all the stuff, including you,\u201d she said with a wink, in a fan-captured video now going viral on TikTok.<\/p>\n Watch the hilarious moment on TikTok<\/a> below:<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna want to sing along,\u201d she added, referencing the show\u2019s many hit songs. \u201cWell, don\u2019t. This ain\u2019t no hootenanny \u2014 this is a Broadway musical!\u201d<\/p>\n Naturally, the audience erupted \u2014 it\u2019s Dolly\u2019s house, Dolly\u2019s rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Merriam-Webster<\/a>, a Hootenanny is “a gathering at which folk singers entertain, often with the audience joining in.”<\/p>\n Although it sounds fun, Parton still says “don’t.”<\/p>\n The musical, produced by Parton, Danny Nozell, ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions, runs in Nashville through August 17, with an official opening night on August 8.<\/p>\nWhat Is a Hootenanny?<\/h3>\n
From Music City to the Great White Way<\/h3>\n