Dolly Parton, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, had a final musical surprise for her fans, along with specific instructions for her posthumous releases.
More than a decade ago, Parton revealed that an unreleased song titled "My Place in History" was sealed in a chestnut box at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She wrote and recorded the song in 2015, the year the resort opened, with instructions for the box to remain sealed until Jan. 19, 2046. This date would have marked her 100th birthday.
The recording is on a CD, and Parton included a CD player inside the box to ensure it could be played decades later. In her 2020 book, "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics," she humorously questioned if the technology would still be functional by 2046, writing, "There's no telling what music is going to be by then. Hopefully, it will play and the whole thing ain't rotted."
Parton was 69 when she recorded "My Place in History" and had mused about being present for the box's opening, stating, "I might, and if I do, I'm going to be at that opening."
Farewell Music
Beyond the musical time capsule, Parton had also chosen the country-gospel hymn "If We Never Meet Again" to be sung at her funeral. She shared in a 2014 interview with "Entertainment Weekly" that this song was a favorite of her father, Lee Parton, and had been performed at his funeral in 2000.
Parton's representatives confirmed that she requested a small, private service for immediate family members. Her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, also shared that Parton wished to be laid to rest in a "beautiful bed of plush cotton."
Broadway Production
In addition to her personal arrangements, Parton's Broadway production, "Dolly: A True Original Musical," based on her life and career, is set to proceed as scheduled. The musical will begin previews on December 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City, with its official opening on January 19, 2027—what would have been Parton's 81st birthday.
"As was Dolly's wish, the Broadway run of DOLLY: A True Original Musical will begin previews December 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City," the production stated.