Dolly Parton and Las Vegas

By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published August 25, 2026

Last updated: August 25, 2026

Dolly Parton has died at 80, according to a statement from her family. Las Vegas was part of her story for more than forty years, and it feels right to note that here.

She first played the city in the early 1980s, with nearly two dozen shows at the Riviera, one of the old-guard Strip showrooms that closed for good in 2015. A decade later, in 1993, she headlined four nights at the newly opened Mirage alongside her friend and frequent duet partner Kenny Rogers, the pairing behind "Islands in the Stream." That run came at the height of her crossover years, when "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You" had made her one of the rare country stars to become a genuine mainstream and film phenomenon.

She was set to return to the city after 32 years away. Dolly: Live in Las Vegas was announced for December 2025 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, six shows built around seven decades of hits: "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," "Coat of Many Colors." Tickets sold out within minutes. Health issues pushed the dates to September 2026, and the residency was ultimately canceled. She never got to play those shows.

Vegas has always made room for the biggest voices in American music, and Dolly Parton was one of the biggest there's been. She'll be missed.

Published: 2026-08-25