Before her death on August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton personally selected the five performers she wanted to bring the most important characters in her life story to the Broadway stage. Now, those stars have officially been revealed.
On Friday, October 2, producers of DOLLY: A True Original Musical announced that Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, Norah Nunes, John Behlmann, and Gabriel Ebert were the performers Parton “handpicked” for the highly anticipated production.
The autobiographical musical follows Parton’s remarkable journey, from her childhood in the Smoky Mountains to becoming one of the most recognizable stars in the world.
The Cast Dolly Parton Chose
Katie Rose Clarke will portray Dolly Parton in the musical. She previously played the role during the production’s Nashville run. Clarke is an accomplished stage performer whose credits include The Light in the Piazza, Allegiance, Miss Saigon, and Merrily We Roll Along.
Carrie St. Louis will portray a younger Dolly during the singer’s early years in Nashville. Like Clarke, St. Louis previously played the role in the Nashville production. She has appeared in productions including Wicked, Just in Time, Rock of Ages, and Kinky Boots.
Making her Broadway debut, 11-year-old Norah Nunes will take on the role of “Little Dolly.” Nunes was one of the finalists selected through the musical’s “Search for Dolly” casting call. She previously performed as Young Anna during the North American tour of Frozen.
John Behlmann will portray Carl Dean, Dolly’s beloved husband of nearly 60 years. Behlmann also played Dean in the Nashville production and is known for his work in The Great Gatsby, Smash, Shucked, and Tootsie.
Gabriel Ebert will play Porter Wagoner, Parton’s mentor and longtime musical collaborator. Ebert won a Tony Award for his performance as Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical and has also appeared in Pass Over, Casa Valentina, Thérèse Raquin, and Brief Encounter.
Dolly Had a Personal Connection to the Cast
According to Adam Speers of ATG Productions, Parton was deeply involved in the casting process and cared enormously about finding the right performers to tell her story.
Speers said Parton was particularly passionate about choosing the actors who would portray herself and the people closest to her. He praised Clarke for capturing not only Dolly’s journey, but also the qualities that made her such a distinctive performer and personality.
He added that Parton felt confident all five actors could tell the “hopeful, deeply human story” at the heart of the musical.
That makes the casting announcement especially poignant. Although Parton will not be here to see the Broadway production herself, the performers taking on these roles were chosen with her personal approval.
When Will DOLLY: A True Original Musical Premiere on Broadway?
The musical previously premiered in Nashville, where it explored Parton’s life from her childhood in the Smoky Mountains through her rise to international fame.
The production features some of Parton’s most beloved songs, including “I Will Always Love You” and “Coat of Many Colors,” alongside new songs she wrote specifically for the musical.
With the five principal performers now revealed, DOLLY: A True Original Musical is preparing to bring Parton’s extraordinary story—and the people who shaped her life—to Broadway.