Grand Rapids – In honor of 9-5 Day today, Right Angle Entertainment and Paul T. Couch announced that the 2026 national tour of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol will kick off November 14 in Princeton, West Virginia. The heartwarming holiday musical will visit more than 20 cities including Grand Rapids, MI at DeVos Performance Hall on December 22, and features music and lyrics by 11-time GRAMMY winner Dolly Parton and the book by David H. Bell, adapted for the stage by Bell, Couch, and Curt Wollan.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 9 at 10AM at DeVosPerformanceHall.com.
This year’s production takes on special meaning as audiences come together to celebrate Parton’s life, artistry, and enduring connection to the Smoky Mountains. Parton described the musical as “My love letter to the Smoky Mountains, to Christmas, and to the timeless reminder that love, compassion, and generosity are gifts that we can all share.”
"The holidays have always held a special place in Dolly’s heart," Couch said, “and this year that love feels significantly more poignant. A Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol represents another meaningful way to experience the many musical gifts that Dolly created for us to enjoy and connect with her, and it’s with that spirit that we’ll share her beautiful songs and stories.”
“What makes Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol so special is how much heart it has,” says Alison Spiriti, co-founder at Right Angle Entertainment. “This show gives longtime fans and new generations an opportunity to celebrate Dolly’s music and the remarkable legacy she created.”
Set in the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, this unforgettable production and amazing cast imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys and gifts of the season. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life anew and discover that love is the greatest gift we have. The legendary holiday tale re-written as a new American classic features Dickens’ classic characters and Parton’s one-of-a-kind songwriting expertise, making this a holiday event for friends and families to share.
Throughout Parton’s illustrious career, the American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian was an ambassador for the Great Smoky Mountains where she was born and raised. Inspired by the people, traditions, and spirit of her beloved home, Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is a uniquely American Christmas musical that celebrates family, redemption, and the enduring spirit of the season.
For more information and tour dates, visit www.smokymountainchristmascarol.com
and follow @smokymountainchristmascarol on Facebook and Instagram.
Credits:
Adapted by David H. Bell, Paul T. Couch and Curt Wollan
Book by David H. Bell
Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton
Directed and choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropolo
Produced by Right Angle Entertainment and Paul T. Couch
About Dolly Parton
Her life and career together make a rags-to-rhinestones story which began on January 19, 1946. Born the fourth child of 12, Dolly grew up in Locust Ridge, nestled against the Great Smoky Mountains. Music runs deep in the Parton family and while many played important parts in Dolly’s success, she credits Uncle Bill Owens for helping her get started in the music business. From taking the stage of “The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour” in Knoxville, Tennessee, to landing a spot on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” Dolly’s talent soon catapulted her to super-stardom. Her songs have captured the hearts of generations. Her electric smile has brightened the lives of millions. Her trademark style is recognized across the globe.
Dolly was one of an elite group of individuals to receive at least one nomination from all four major annual American entertainment award organizations; Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony. In 2004, the U.S. Library of Congress gave her the distinguished Living Legend Award. “My dream was to make as many people happy as I could in this life," she said.
In 2006, she was selected to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Five years later in 2011, she was awarded a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award. Dolly was awarded her first Oscar on Nov. 16, 2025, when she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governors Awards for her decades-long philanthropic work. Of everything Dolly has achieved, she was humble and grounded in faith and family. From her “Coat of Many Colors” to her wigs of many styles, no dream was ever too big and no mountain ever too high for the little country girl who turned the world into her stage. From singing barefoot on the front porch of her Tennessee Mountain Home to commanding the stage in six-inch heels, Dolly Parton was a larger-than-life living legend with a heart as big as her dreams.
About Paul T. Couch (Executive Producer and Adaptation)
PAUL T. COUCH (Executive Producer and Adaptation) is one of the theme park industry’s most award-winning entertainment producers, having won over 20 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards and 6 Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards during his tenure (2003-2014) as Dollywood’s Director of Entertainment and Executive Producer. It was there that Paul and Dolly began their creative partnership that included several major musical productions and a TV special for the Hallmark Channel. Prior to that he was General Manager of Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium where he produced the musicals Always, Patsy Cline, Lost Highway: The Music and Legend of Hank Williams, and Bye, Bye, Love—The Everly Brothers Musical, as well as award-winning productions of Pump Boys and Dinettes and Cotton Patch Gospel starring Gary Sandy. Paul served as Executive Producer for Dolly’s first-ever children’s album, I Believe In You. He is the owner and Executive Producer of his own production company. Paul most recently served on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University teaching in the Music Business program of the school’s renowned Recording Industry Management Department.
About Right Angle Entertainment (Producers)
Right Angle Entertainment specializes in the production, marketing, management, and distribution of live entertainment experiences. We collaborate with managers, producers, artists, agents, studios, and licensors to transform brands, talent, intellectual properties, and digital-first franchises into compelling live theatrical, concert, and immersive experiences for audiences worldwide. RAE’s diverse roster includes “Wheel of Fortune LIVE!,” Hasbro’s “Clue: A Walking Mystery” immersive experience and the “Clue: Murder on the Menu” immersive dining experience, “Ninja Kidz Live! Infinite Possibilities,” “Jay Shetty: Love Rules – World Tour,” “The Simon & Garfunkel Story,” “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” and London’s acclaimed close-up magic experience “The Magicians Table,” among many others.
About DeVos Performance Hall
Located within DeVos Place in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, DeVos Performance Hall is a 2,543-seat performing arts theater providing an intimate setting for touring concerts, comedy shows, and family entertainment. The performance hall is home to four local arts groups including Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Ballet, Broadway Grand Rapids, and Opera Grand Rapids. DeVos Performance Hall belongs to a trusted network of Grand Rapids entertainment venues that have been successfully managed for more than 30 years. DeVos Performance Hall is managed by Legends Global, the world’s leading premium live experiences company. To learn more, visit DeVosPerformanceHall.com or follow DeVos Performance Hall on social.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at www.LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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