Dolly Parton Musical Sets Broadway Cast Led by Katie Rose Clarke

Katie Rose Clarke will star as Dolly Parton in Dolly: A True Original Musical on Broadway, reprising the role she originated in the show's Nashville production. The casting was announced by the production, with Parton herself handpicking the leads.

Carrie St. Louis will be featured as Dolly, the singer-songwriter character, while 11-year-old Norah Nunes will play Little Dolly. John Behlmann takes on the role of Carl Dean, Dolly's husband, and Gabriel Ebert will play Porter Wagoner. Bartlett Sher directs.

The musical begins previews at Broadway's St. James on Monday, December 7, with an official opening set for January 19, 2027. Additional casting and other details will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Deadline.

From Nashville to Broadway

Dolly: A True Original Musical had its world premiere last year in Parton's hometown of Nashville. Clarke previously performed in that production, while St. Louis was involved in some of the musical's earliest readings and recently finished a Broadway run in Just In Time. Nunes was one of the finalists of the "Search for Dolly" online open casting call.

Parton was a producer on the musical along with Danny Nozell, Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions. She wrote the show's book with Maria S. Schlatter, who previously partnered with Parton on the Netflix film Christmas on the Square.