Dolly Parton joins Nashville stars who hit (other) Broadway

After making its world premiere in Nashville last summer, Dolly Parton’s musical life story is officially headed for (the other) Broadway. Debuting on her 81st birthday (Jan. 19, 2027), “DOLLY: A True Original Musical” will take over New York’s St. James Theatre with iconic country songs, pure-Dolly storytelling and jaunty choreography.

It marks the second time the Smoky Mountain superstar has charmed the Great White Way, after she first did so with a musical adaptation of “9 to 5.” Working behind the scenes, Parton wrote all the music and lyrics for the stage adaptation of her hit movie, “9 to 5.” She wound up nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2009. But Parton is far from alone on the list of Nashville artists who moonlight in Manhattan.

In fact, hitmaker Maren Morris recently told NBC’s “TODAY” she intends to take a break from touring when her Dream Girl Tour wraps. During the downtime, she’d love to explore a creative shift.

“I feel like Broadway – it’s just a storytelling medium and you get more time,” Morris said. “So I would love to do something like that, write for a musical.”

It turns out country artists have been crossing over to musical theater for many years. Here are just some of the Nashville stars to pursue a second career.

Reba McEntire

Making her Broadway debut in 2001, Reba McEntire earned widespread critical acclaim for her starring role as sharpshooter Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun.” It came as no surprise, since the Oklahoma native already had a thriving on-screen career. She has also appeared in films like “Tremors,” “The Little Rascals,” and of course, her TV show “Reba” ran for six seasons.

Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus was long past the “Achy Breaky Heart” mania of the 1990s when he was tapped to join a revival of the beloved musical “Chicago” in 2012. But his charisma was still capable of stealing a scene, and he brought the “smooth-talking lawyer” Billy Flynn back to life.

Jennifer Nettles

Looking for a change of pace, while still keeping her feet on the stage, Sugarland duo member Jennifer Nettles made the switch to Broadway in 2015. Her role was also in a run of “Chicago,” earning the lead role of Roxie Hart. Critics were impressed with her chops, and comedic timing.

Elsewhere, classic stars like Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers, Mac Davis and Larry Gatlin all found the spotlight, too. Plus, acting isn’t the only way to wind up on Broadway.

Shane McAnally & Brandy Clark

As one of Nashville’s most respected songwriting duos, McAnally and Clark decided to apply their skills to something new. The “Follow You Arrow” cowriters came up with the Tony Award-winning 2023 musical “Shucked,” which featured original music and a laugh-out-loud small-town storyline. The musical even returned to Nashville in 2024, playing at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

Brian Kelley

Florida Georgia Line’s BK turned his “anything goes” creative ethos to musical theater with “May We All,” which was loosely-inspired by FGL’s hit collaboration with Tim McGraw. Coproducing the show, it debuted in Nashville in 2022 and featured a soundtrack full of country favorites.

K.T. Oslin

Before she made her name with a series of ‘80s country hits, K.T. Oslin made a living in Broadway chorus lines. She appeared in 1960s and 1970s runs of “West Side Story,” “Hello, Dolly!” and more.

Meanwhile, the flow between Nashville and Broadway sometimes works in reverse.

Kristin Chenoweth

Kristin Chenoweth found fame originating the role of Glinda in the smash hit, “Wicked.” She then came to Nashville and released the country album “Some Lessons Learned” in 2011.

Laura Bell Bundy

Laura Bell Bundy was also a leading lady on Broadway. She originated the Broadway roles of Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” and Amber Von Tussle in “Hairspray,” before her single “Giddy On Up” came out in 2010.

There’s clearly a solid history connecting the artistic powerhouses of Nashville and New York City. And those connections are only getting stronger. When “DOLLY: A True Original Musical” starts its run, it won’t even be the only Nashville-coded Broadway show.

With music and lyrics written by hit songwriter J.T. Harding, the new musical “Music City” captures what it’s like to chase dreams in the capital of country music. The show follows a pair of aspiring singer-songwriters who hang out in an East Nashville dive bar, and is currently in production at St. Luke’s Theatre. Musical theater fans can never get enough Nashville storytelling.

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