Dolly Parton's estate has announced plans for a special festival to honor the late singer's life and legacy, set to take place in both London and Nashville in 2027. The event, called DollyFest, will be a two-day celebration held over two consecutive weekends in each city, though specific dates have not yet been released. The festival will serve as an alternative to a traditional public memorial for Parton, who passed away at the age of 80 on August 25 after a short battle with cancer. She was laid to rest in a private family funeral in Nashville, where she was placed next to her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, according to her great-niece. Parton had originally envisioned a similar event in January 2026, where she would perform alongside other artists. However, that event was canceled before it was officially announced due to her health struggles, as stated by her estate. Danny Nozell, the founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises and organizer of DollyFest, emphasized that while the estate does not discourage people from honoring Parton in their own ways, the singer herself had expressed a preference against a traditional memorial. "It feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly," Nozell said. Born in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Parton was a legendary figure in country music, known for her powerful voice, songwriting talent, and philanthropy. She wrote and performed numerous hit songs, including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," and "I Will Always Love You." Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Parton won 10 Grammy awards, sold over 100 million records worldwide, and wrote thousands of songs. She often emphasized that songwriting was her primary passion, calling it "my way of expressing myself" and "my therapy." Since her passing, numerous emotional tributes from celebrities, politicians, and fans have poured in across social media. Nozell highlighted that DollyFest aligns with the spirit of Parton’s legacy, saying, "A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!)." The festival aims to bring together fans and artists to celebrate her life and contributions in a way that reflects her own vision.