The Kennedy Center, under the leadership of the Trump administration, is putting a spotlight on one of America’s most beloved musical icons, Dolly Parton, in a bold cultural showcase aiming to “make art great again.”
This summer, the Kennedy Center will host Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, a sweeping multimedia concert event in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra. The performance will take place on June 26 and 27 in the Concert Hall and promises a symphonic tribute to Parton’s unparalleled contributions to American music and storytelling.
“Did you hear the National Symphony Orchestra is performing Dolly Parton’s 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 at The Kennedy Center?! It’s a one-of-a-kind multimedia concert experience. Sing along to her greatest hits with live guest vocalists and stunning new orchestrations celebrating her incredible legacy,” the Kennedy Center said on X on Monday.
Did you hear the National Symphony Orchestra is performing Dolly Parton’s 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 at The Kennedy Center?! It’s a one-of-a-kind multimedia concert experience. Sing along to her greatest hits with live guest vocalists and stunning new orchestrations celebrating her… pic.twitter.com/rSppzdz2gH
— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) April 28, 2025
Conducted by NSO principal pops conductor Steven Reineke, the show will feature new orchestrations of Parton’s timeless hits — including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You” — accompanied by guest vocalists and projected visuals that trace Parton’s musical journey.
“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,” Parton said in the Kennedy Center’s announcement.
“It’s about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way,” she added.
Though Parton will not perform in person, the concert features immersive visual storytelling and a vivid on-screen presence, combining her voice and history into a rich, orchestral experience.
The Kennedy Center’s Dolly Parton symphonic tribute isn’t just a cultural celebration — it’s part of a broader push by the institution’s new leadership to, in their words, “make art great again.”
Appointed by President Donald Trump, new Kennedy Center interim Director Ric Grenell is shaking up the institution’s direction and financial priorities.
In February, Grenell explained to the media that Trump’s vision for the Kennedy Center includes a stronger emphasis on fiscal responsibility, popular appeal, and public accountability in the arts.
“I think the frustration that President Trump had is that the Kennedy Center has no cash on hand, no reserves, and they have been paying for salaries with debt reserves while taking around $40 million of public money,” Grenell said to Politico. “If you’re going to take public money, then you get to have public input.”
Part of that shift, he noted, involves choosing productions that resonate with wider American audience — such as Threads: My Songs in Symphony, the upcoming multimedia orchestral tribute to Dolly Parton.
As the Kennedy Center moves forward under new leadership, productions like the Dolly Parton event reflect an effort to align the institution more closely with mainstream American culture while rebuilding its financial foundation.
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Originally premiered in Nashville, Threads has toured cities across the U.S., from Pittsburgh to Portland. Its Kennedy Center debut represents both a cultural celebration and a symbolic moment as the Trump administration seeks to elevate traditional American art forms and national heritage through iconic figures like Parton.
Tickets go on sale to Kennedy Center members beginning Tuesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. EST. General public ticket sales open Thursday, May 1, at 10 a.m. EST, via the Kennedy Center’s website.
