By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
The late, great music superstar Dolly Parton is being honored with a newline of collector dolls, created in partnership with fashion doll designer Integrity Toys and timed to the opening of her Life of Many Colors Museum.
The museum and the dolls, which were all developed in partnership with Parton before she passed away, celebrate her career in entertainment and philanthropy along with her fashion legacy.
The first three dolls in the series, called Dolly Dolls, mark the latest chapter in a line of Parton-inspired dolls dating back to the 1970s. The project has been in development for more than a year, according to the companies involved.
Each doll is rendered in 1:6, or 12-inch, scale with a poseable vinyl body. The outfits are based on looks pulled from Parton’s personal fashion archive, which is featured at the museum, and each doll’s makeup was designed to match products from Parton’s Dolly Beauty line.
The Dreamin’ in Gingham doll, limited to 2,000 pieces with a suggested retail price of $165, features a gingham-and-denim look with embroidered roses and a bejeweled guitar modeled after one Parton has played onstage. It also comes with shoes, jewelry and a signature Parton necklace.
The World on Fire doll, also limited to 2,000 pieces at a suggested retail price of $175, is based on an outfit Parton wore to the 2023 ACM Awards. It includes a zip-front top with tails covered in rhinestones and glitter, matching rhinestone-embellished pants, a faux-leather capelet with buckle details, and a removable overskirt printed with a world map graphic. The doll also comes with a mic stand and detachable wireless microphone.
The Diamond in a Rhinestone World doll, limited to 1,200 pieces at a suggested retail price of $185, is available only in person at the Life of Many Colors Museum. It features a rhinestone-embellished white suit styled after a look on display at the museum, along with a miniature version of Parton’s butterfly necklace and a custom electric guitar with a neck strap.
The Dreamin’ in Gingham and World on Fire dolls are available online through the museum’s store and in person for museum visitors. The Diamond in a Rhinestone World doll is sold exclusively in person at the museum. Fans can sign up for email updates on availability and future releases at integritytoys.com/dollydolls.
In a statement included on the dolls’ packaging, Parton reflected on the first doll her mother made for her as a child, out of a corn cob with corn silk hair, which she named “Little Tiny Tassel Top.”
“I have come a long way from that cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, but I am still the same girl of many colors that I was then,” Parton said. “I am so excited to have my newest tiny tassel top to share with all of you. Her corn silk colored hair has come a long, long way too! Integrity Toys, along with my archive team, has lovingly created a beautiful collection of brand new ‘Dolly Dolls.’ I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.”
Carol Roth, who helped manage the collaboration for Integrity Toys, said the company considers the project an honor.
“There is no celebrity who is more beloved than Dolly Parton,” Roth said. “She is not only a global pop culture icon, entertainer, fashionista and philanthropist, but she is an ambassador to being beautiful inside and out.
“It is the Integrity Toys team’s complete honor and privilege to have worked with Dolly and her incredible, thoughtful team on carefully crafting a museum-worthy, beautiful tribute in doll-size that captures Dolly’s essence and unique style and that collectors and fans alike can proudly display and love for decades to come.”
The Life of Many Colors Museum is also launching at an emotional time for colleagues and fans, and is expected to be a huge draw in coming months.
The museum is the most comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the life and career of Dolly Parton. Spanning more than 20,000 square feet, the museum invites visitors to experience Parton’s journey “from the top of the mountains to the top of the world” through immersive exhibits, behind-the-scenes artifacts, multimedia installations, and personal stories told through Dolly’s own perspective.
Located at 126 3rd Avenue North in downtown Nashville, the museum offers its own dedicated entrance while occupying the third floor of Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel.
In addition to its exhibitions, the museum experience offers two distinctive and expansive retail stores offering official Dolly Parton merchandise and exclusive collections, including the new Dolly Doll collection.