Dolly Parton’s Symphony Concert to Light Up Kennedy Center: A Capital Event for Country Fans

D.C. is about to get a little more rhinestone sparkle this summer as the Kennedy Center gets set to host "Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony" on June 26 and 27. This symphonic extravaganza promises a fresh twist on the legendary singer’s greatest hits, from "Jolene" to "Coat of Many Colors" and, of course, "I Will Always Love You."

The show, which first debuted in Nashville and has been touring across the country, will feature the National Symphony Orchestra joined by guest vocalists and musicians. While Dolly herself won’t be singing live at the event, the performance is designed as a full-bodied tribute to her enduring influence on American music and culture. Expect soaring orchestral arrangements and multimedia visuals celebrating her life and stories—because let’s be real, Dolly’s journey deserves the big screen and the big sound.

Dolly commented through the Kennedy Center’s announcement, "The threads of my life are woven together through my songs. That’s why the project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me. It’s about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way." If anyone can tie together country roots and highbrow symphony, it’s Dolly.

National Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke shared his excitement, saying, "Bringing Dolly Parton’s music to life through the power of a full symphony orchestra has long been a dream of mine. Dolly is one of the great storytellers of American music, and I am excited to bring her expansive catalog to the Kennedy Center." He promises these arrangements will show off Dolly’s music like never before—so basically, this is not your grandma’s night at the symphony (unless your grandma is a Dolly superfan, which, honestly, wouldn’t be surprising).

The event is being billed as a "multimedia" experience, with visuals of Dolly throughout her career leading audiences on a musical and visual journey. Roma Daravi, VP of public relations at the Kennedy Center, summed up the excitement: "Dolly Parton is an American icon whose music resonates with people from all walks of life and we are overjoyed to bring her symphony to the Kennedy Center!"

Tickets go on sale to Kennedy Center members April 29 at 10 a.m., with the general public getting their shot starting May 1. So if you want to catch this glittering mashup of country and classical, you’d better set those alarms.

The concert also arrives at an interesting moment for the Kennedy Center, as President Richard Grenell is aiming to usher in what he calls the "Golden Age of the Arts." After years of budget struggles, Grenell says the focus is now on shows that actually sell tickets and appeal to broad audiences. He’s blunt about the financial realities: "We must have programs that sell tickets. We can’t afford to pay for content that doesn’t at least pay for itself right now."

Grenell’s vision includes more mainstream, crowd-pleasing performances—think Christmas spectaculars and, yes, big names like Dolly Parton. After all, if anyone can fill those velvet seats and balance the books, it’s the queen of country herself. Let’s just say, if Dolly can’t save the Kennedy Center, it might be time to turn it into a honky-tonk.