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Dolly Parton‘s legacy lives on in many ways—most recently, through the newly released Dolly Dolls.
On Sept. 15, the Dolly Archive, in partnership with Integrity Toys, released three limited-edition Dolly Dolls: Dreamin’ in Gingham, World on Fire, and Diamond in a Rhinestone World. Tied to the new Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum—scheduled to open on Sept. 29—the Dolly Dolls feature plenty of sparkle and personality, and were a big pᴀssion of Parton’s when she was alive.
The original idea for the new Dolly Dolls came from Rebecca Ann Seaver — Parton’s niece and executive director of the museum. “This project actually came about because I had asked Dolly if we could put together a line of dolls with Integrity for the museum opening,” Seaver, 40, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive chat following the dolls’ launch. “And she obliged me and said that if that was something that I felt pᴀssionate about, that I could lead the project.”
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While the response to the Dolly Dolls’ release has been overwhelmingly positive, many fans were disappointed they weren’t able to get their hands on one, as the dolls sold out within hours of their drop. They’ve also expressed concern concern over the likeness of the dolls to Parton herself.
“This one [drop] was kind of a test run to see how they were going to do, and they did great,” explains Seaver on the small number of available dolls. “I want people to know that we have more designs and we’re ready to bring more out next year.”
As for the look of the dolls, Seaver wants to reᴀssure the public that they were never meant to look exactly like Parton. Instead, they were meant to have more of a “glamorous” feel.
“Dolly wanted to do these dolls the way they were in their very glamorous package,” she says. “That was something that she always saw in herself and maybe didn’t see in her actual package, but she was excited to see that in the doll package. We wanted to make sure that these dolls feel like Dolly, but maybe if they don’t look exactly like her, we’re okay with that.”
That said, Seaver and the Integrity Toys team do have plans to release more “Dolly-ized versions” in the future.
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The three limited-edition dolls released last week are not the first Dolly Dolls to ever be created, with the earliest release dating back to 1977. In fact, Parton’s love for dolls goes back even further to the very first song she ever wrote, “Little Tiny Tᴀssel Top,” about the doll her mom had made her out of a corn cob. The inspiration for previous Dolly Dolls has always surrounded the country singer’s current era at the time of their release—and the new dolls are no different.
“We felt like with Rockstar, that was her most recent album release that had been a huge hit, and ‘World on Fire’ was such a great moment for her,” explains Seaver. “So we just felt like that one in doll form, especially with the world skirt… We felt like that one really showcased Dolly in her most glorious doll form.”
“And then Dreamin’ in Gingham, that’s just quintessentially Dolly,” continues Seaver. “There are moments throughout her entire career and throughout her entire life where she’s in denim and either a gingham shirt or a red polka dot shirt or some kind of bandana shirt. And so we just really felt like that one really just had her all over it.”
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The true star of the show, however, is the third and final doll: Diamond in a Rhinestone World. It’s a white suit bedazzled with an abundance of silver rhinestones—and it’s so special that Seaver and her team decided to make it a museum-exclusive.
“She is going to have a virtual concert performance inside the museum that she filmed this past spring,” shares Seaver. “And that doll is based around the costume that she wears in the concert. We really wanted it to be special for people that were coming to the museum so that they could take a little piece of that experience that they had there with her in that concert home with them.”
Diamond in a Rhinestone World is the only doll made exclusively for the museum store, but a few lucky fans will have the chance to grab a World on Fire or Dreamin’ in Gingham doll if they visit Nashville, as a select number were set aside specifically for the grand opening.
Seaver also suggests fans stay in the know on all upcoming Dolly Dolls releases by joining the waitlist/notification list.
Regardless of the public’s response, Seaver is grateful that Parton, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80, was alive to see the newest rendition of Dolly Dolls come to life. Not only was she able to sign off on each component, but she also had the opportunity to have a pH๏τoshoot with the dolls—a day that Seaver describes as “one of the most special moments of my life.”
“She’s had a Dolly Doll come out in every fantastic era of her life and career,” says Seaver. “And so, we didn’t know when we started the project that we were gonna lose her in it, but to be able to commemorate her and her joyous life and career this way is bittersweet. I’m very proud of it and I’m very proud that we got to work with her on it and have her blessing with it.”
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To read more about Parton’s life and legacy, PEOPLE’s special tribute edition, Dolly Parton: An American Treasure, is available now.