NASHVILLE — Just when it seemed Dolly Parton had conquered every stage imaginable — from Appalachian honky-tonks to the world’s largest arenas — the 80-year-old legend has once again raised the bar. This summer, she swaps her rhinestone-studded guitars for full orchestration with Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, a 90-minute residency at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Running seven weeks from June 16 through July 31, 2026, the residency is the centerpiece of what Nashville officials are calling the city’s “Summer of Dolly” — and early reactions suggest it could be one of the most ambitious artistic statements of her six-decade career.
A 90-Minute Cinematic Symphony
Unlike a typical concert, Threads is a fully immersive, cinematic symphonic experience. While a stellar ensemble of guest vocalists performs live, Parton herself appears on a towering screen, sharing personal stories and reflections between orchestral renditions of her biggest hits.
Under the baton of acclaimed arranger David Hamilton, the Nashville Symphony transforms classics like “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors”, and “I Will Always Love You” into sweeping orchestral movements. The show is less a country concert and more a journey through the American songbook, blending music, storytelling, and visual spectacle.
Fans will hear intimate tales from Parton’s childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains, career milestones, and behind-the-scenes insights that shed new light on her legendary songs.
“It’s not just about the songs,” a production insider shared. “It’s about the threads that tie her whole life together.”
https://youtu.be/JsgphzGbZgc
Residency Details
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Duration: 7 weeks
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Performance Length: 90 minutes, no intermission
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Venue: Schermerhorn Symphony Center
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Repertoire: Orchestral reimaginings of hits plus rare deep cuts
While previews of the symphonic project toured 12 U.S. cities, Nashville is the only stop where the full multimedia vision will be realized.
Nashville’s “Summer of Dolly”
The residency is only part of a citywide celebration of Dolly’s enduring influence:
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Opening of the Songteller Hotel boutique in downtown Nashville
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Launch of the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum
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A special exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame chronicling her six-decade recording legacy
From Broadway to the symphony hall, Dolly will define Nashville’s summer calendar.
Trading the Guitar for the Baton
Parton has always insisted she will never retire, yet Threads carries the weight of a capstone project — a curated retrospective that elevates her catalog beyond country music into timeless American art.
By reimagining her songs for orchestra, she proves what critics have long said: Dolly Parton’s melodies transcend genre. This isn’t a farewell tour — it’s a bold legacy statement, her so-called “final masterpiece.”
This summer in Nashville, the rhinestones won’t sparkle under honky-tonk lights but beneath the glow of a symphony hall chandelier — a reminder that Dolly Parton’s story is still unfolding, one magnificent movement at a time.