Dolly Parton is starring in a musical. Dolly Parton is starring in a musical on TikTok. Dolly Parton is starring in a musical on TikTok about Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. Let that sink in.
Parton announced her role in the musical via an Instagram post on Monday morning. She shared a photo of the script with the caption, “I’m making #MexicanPizzaTheMusical with @TacoBell.” According to the script, the musical is, “Based on the true story of the internet losing its mind.”
Taco Bell discontinued the Mexican Pizza — two flour tortillas layered with beans, pizza sauce, beef, tomatoes, and melted cheese — in late 2020. But real Taco Bell fanatics who were devastated that the Mexican Pizza was leaving the menu rallied for a comeback. Krish Jagirdar organized a Change.org petition that received over 200,000 signatures, and Doja Cat threw her support behind the movement via a song on TikTok. On April 18, Taco Bell officially announced its return, set for May 19.
Doja Cat’s Mexican Pizza song spurred @victor.kunda to make a TikTok based around the premise “you’ve walked in on the rehearsal for ‘Mexican Pizza: The Musical’ by Doja Cat.” The TikTok garnered 1.2 million views and 323,000 likes, but that doesn’t mean Taco Bell should have actually made the musical. Some things are better left in the drafts.
Mexican Pizza: The Musical isn’t the first of its kind. In 2020, Ratatoullie: The Musical was born on TikTok, and with it came the birth of a genre. The creator, Daniel Mertzlufft, was also behind For You Paige, TikTok’s first commissioned musical. Another TikTok musical,The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
So it’s hard to tell whether the TikTok musical genre has now reached its peak with Dolly Parton’s endorsement — or if it’s just getting started. Either way, this is one bit of spon we will let ourselves enjoy, if only for the meme potential.
Mexican Pizza: The Musical will premiere on TikTok May 26 at 8 p.m. ET.