Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The audience of “9 to 5 The Musical” were told of the death of Dolly Parton on the show's opening night, Tuesday, at the Pavilion Theatre in the United Kingdom.
As awareness of the country icon’s passing made its way around the world, a cast member broke the news to those waiting to see the show.
There was an audible gasp as actor Karla Tracey read the statement on stage.
She’d heard the news in the dressing room while the production was preparing for curtain up.
“We were all a little bit shell-shocked and so taken back because we've been studying this woman for the last six months, we've been rehearsing, we've be learning her music, we've heard so many wonderful stories about the process of the musical and how it was brought to life with Dolly and to get that news, it was like... It was like I had lost somebody in my family and I think that says so much about Dolly and the connection that she's had with so many people that people feel like they know her,” she said.
Tracey plays the character of Doralee, which was Parton’s role in the 1980 film, which also featured Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
The musical production is based on the movie, but features additional songs by the late musician
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The audience of “9 to 5 The Musical” were told of the death of Dolly Parton on the show's opening night, Tuesday, at the Pavilion Theatre in the United Kingdom.
As awareness of the country icon’s passing made its way around the world, a cast member broke the news to those waiting to see the show.
There was an audible gasp as actor Karla Tracey read the statement on stage.
She’d heard the news in the dressing room while the production was preparing for curtain up.
“We were all a little bit shell-shocked and so taken back because we've been studying this woman for the last six months, we've been rehearsing, we've be learning her music, we've heard so many wonderful stories about the process of the musical and how it was brought to life with Dolly and to get that news, it was like... It was like I had lost somebody in my family and I think that says so much about Dolly and the connection that she's had with so many people that people feel like they know her,” she said.
Tracey plays the character of Doralee, which was Parton’s role in the 1980 film, which also featured Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
The musical production is based on the movie, but features additional songs by the late musician
-------------------------------------
Follow Scripps News on other platforms—
Join our newsletter at bit.ly/2q1tepr
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/scrippsnews
Follow us on X: https://x.com/scrippsnews
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/scrippsnews
Follow us on TikTok: tiktok.com/@scrippsnews
