Country music legend Dolly Parton loves encouraging young artists, from supporting new Grand Old Opry members to appearing on “American Idol” in 2024 to cheer on contestant McKenna Faith Breinholt.
Now, thanks to a new spring semester study program at Belmont University in Nashville, Parton will get to inspire even more young people. On January 28, 2025, the school announced the launch of Dolly U for students, featuring coursework that will “celebrate and amplify the life and music of Dolly Parton,” according to the school’s website.
Parton, who turned 79 on January 19, appeared at Belmont to announce her partnership with the school, which will also include staging the world premiere of “Dolly: The Original Musical,” before it debuts on Broadway in 2026.
Belmont University Students Will Help Bring ‘Dolly: The Original Music’ to Life
Dolly U kicks off during Belmont’s spring semester, and students will get to contribute to the upcoming “Dolly” debut, slated for a week-long run at the university’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts .
Belmont said the coursework centered around Parton will “foster and inspire creativity, innovation and character development in a rising generation of entertainment and community leaders.”
Speaking at the kickoff, Belmont University president Greg Jones said Belmont piloted the program in the summer of 2024 and that “students were embedded with the production team, gaining hands-on experience in a real-world project alongside leading and world-renowned experts in their fields.”
This spring, students enrolled in Dolly U will get to be part of four project-based courses. Up to six students will also receive fellowships to work with CTK Enterprises throughout 2025 as they get hands-on experience helping to develop, produce and premiere the musical.
Here Are the Dolly Parton Classes Students Can Take at Belmont University
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Though Parton won’t be teaching the classes about her life and work, she’s had a hand in approving the content. She’s always been a big advocate for mentoring others, as she did with the top nine contestants on season seven of “Idol” in 2008.
In the first Dolly U course, called “Dolly Parton: Icon & Influence,” two professors will teach about Parton’s life and 60-year career, “from hit songs to major motion pictures, best-selling books to a thriving theme park.” Belmont’s course description said the class “explores the keystone moments of creating an American icon through both lecture and intimate interviews from experts and key players in Dolly’s career.”
The second course is called “Story-Driven Merchandising,” which will teach students “how entertainment properties connect with audiences through consumer products, transforming stories into lifestyle experiences.” Belmont says students will brainstorm and pitch products that audience members at the “Dolly” musical might want to take home with them.
There will also be an “Integrated Marketing Communications” course on how a big production like Parton’s musical is promoted and communicated through various media channels, and a “Partnership Marketing in Music” course that teaches “principles and strategies of partnership marketing, sponsorship, strategic alignments, non-profit collaborations and business development” in the music industry.
Belmont said that Dolly U is expected to continue beyond 2025, with other Parton-related projects and events as the focus of its courses.
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Dolly U: University Launches Dolly Parton College Courses With Help From the Music Icon