GettyA victim of the Los Angeles wildfire didn’t let the blaze stop her from the hot pursuit of her biggest dreams. LA-based singer-songwriter Haley Spence Brown was forced to evacuate her home, leaving behind the recording equipment she planned to use to make an audition tape for Dolly Parton’s upcoming Broadway musical.
LA Singer Goes Viral With Soundalike Dolly Parton Audition
Brown, who is half of the country duo The Doohickeys, was determined not to miss her chance to submit her audition to play Dolly before the January 12 deadline. So she grabbed her guitar and made a post from her hotel room.
#searchfordolly is time sensitive, so here’s my audition. In light of the devastation in our city of Los Angeles, I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to post this. Still, this particular song has gotten me through some rough times, and I hope it can distract you for a minute. Dolly is a helper and remains positive in the face of tragedy—check our our story for a list of local musicians who lost their homes that you can donate to.
♬ original sound – The DoohickeysThe TikTok post has gone viral, with thousands of viewers commenting on the singer’s ability to capture Dolly Parton’s voice and spirit.
“You turned on the Dolly voice and I literally gasped a little bit the talking AND singing voice are so spot on” said one comment.
Another said, “I want you to have this. #searchfordolly can stop right here.”
A number of fans were taken by how different Brown’s audition was from others, saying “THIS is the one folks. No over the top characterization needed. Authentic.” and “THIS IS IT!!! not overly gimmicky and raw talent. plus you do look like young dolly” and “this is the one for me. the others are doing Dolly drag, which is fun, but you are giving her heart 💘”
Brown performs a rendition of Parton’s 1987 song “Wildflowers,” which first appeared on her “Trio” album with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. The Doohickeys singer says the song about resilience and growing where you’re planted has gotten her through some tough times. Near the end of the video, Brown displays a talent for yodeling and mentions her skill on the banjo and the fiddle.
Dolly Parton Spells Out Wish List for Auditions
Those skills may come in handy. Parton says she’s looking for talented performers “who can capture the spirit of my journey, whether you’re an experienced theater professional or an undiscovered gem with that little special something.”
The musical, originally titled “Hello, I’m Dolly,” has been rechristened “Dolly: An Original Musical.” Parton herself penned the musical alongside Maria S. Schlatter, who co-wrote the TV movie “Christmas on the Square” with the singer. But the songs in the show are Dolly’s alone.
The show takes Dolly fans back to the singer’s famously humble beginnings in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Dolly Rebecca Parton grew up as the fourth of 12 children in a one-room cabin in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
After high school, Parton headed for the big city of Nashville, where she quickly found success in the cast of “The Porter Wagoner Show.”
Parton says, “I’ve lived my whole life to see this show on stage. I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites as well. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap, you’ll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol’ Opera. Pun and fun intended.”
Those chosen to audition in person will be flown to New York City for the official tryouts. No opening date has been announced for “Dolly: The Original Musical,” but it’s expected to take the stage sometime in 2026. You can check out the show’s website to see all of the hopefuls competing with Brown to fill Dolly’s high heels.
Meanwhile, The Doohickeys’ Dolly devotion runs deep. They’ve even come up with an “update” to Parton’s hit “9 to 5.”
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