Dolly Parton is being honored worldwide after her death at 80. The legendary country star died on Tuesday, and in addition to her music career, she had many other business ventures. One was Dollywood, her own theme park. And after her death, news on what will happen moving forward.
The iconic and legendary star Dolly Parton is dead. On Tuesday, a video statement, read by her nephew, Brian Seaver, was released through her Instagram, confirming her passing at 80.
“I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he said. “It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”
Parton’s team later confirmed she died Tuesday “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
Dolly Parton spent much of her time outside the recording studio and on stage helping others. While she created the Imagination Library, providing books to millions of children and donating money to medical research, she also did a lot for her community in terms of fun and economic growth.
Her own theme park, Dollywood, has become a huge success. Today, it has around 4 million visitors each year. So how did it all start?
The story of ‘Dollywood’
In 1982, during an interview with Barbara Walters, Dolly Parton spoke about how she wanted to create a “Smoky Mountain fairy land” in her home region while simultaneously creating jobs and bringing in money to the local economy.
Not long after, theme park owners Pete and Jake Herschend saw a strong possibility. Teaming up with Parton, they created the former Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, into what would be called “Dollywood.”
On May 3, 1986, the doors opened. And it didn’t take long for it to become a huge success.
In its first years, about 1.3 million visitors visited Dollywood. Per The Sun, it was twice as many people as visited Silver Dollar City the year before.
Dolly Parton’s dream had come true.
“When I was growing up here in the Great Smoky Mountains, we used to come every now and then down to this area,” Dolly Parton told USA Today in 2023.
“When it was the county fair, we’d come to town, and I used to think if I make it big, if I get rich like I was dreaming I might, that I’d love to do something special, to come back home and build a park of my own,” she added.
How Dolly Parton transformed her community with ‘Dollywood’
Dollywood wasn’t a trend that disappeared. Last year, it was named the top amusement park in the United States by Tripadvisor. Moreover, this year it ranked 49th on TIME magazine’s ranking of the top 500 privately held companies in the country.
While visitors love the place, it has also had a major impact on the local community. During the peak season, it employs around 3,000 people and is the largest employer in Pigeon Forge and Sevier County.
Now, after Dolly Parton’s death, many wonder what will happen to Dollywood. The amusement park shared a tribute to Dolly on Wednesday, saying it was set to welcome guests as planned, honoring Dolly Parton’s wishes.
Park bosses said the country music legend wanted Dollywood to remain open, believing it should continue bringing families together rather than close its doors in mourning.
“With heavy hearts, the Dollywood family mourns the passing of our beloved Dreamer-in-Chief, Dolly Parton. Everyone at Dollywood shares the sorrow of countless people around the world touched by Dolly’s warmth, wisdom and generous spirit,” the statement read.
Dollywood makes major decision on what will happen to theme park after Dolly’s death
“Dolly’s heartfelt wish was that Dollywood always remain a place of joy, hope and togetherness—a space where families and friends could honor her memory, not with silence, but with laughter, music and shared dreams.”
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton said in a statement, “The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood. Dolly’s heart was as vast as the mountains she cherished, and her compassion knew no bounds. She inspired generations to dream boldly and love deeply. While we grieve her loss, we are honored and committed to carry her light forward. Her legacy will continue to shine in every melody sung, every smile shared and every dream kindled within these gates.”
Naughton added, “Dolly’s enduring legacy extends beyond her music and generosity to her remarkable work ethic—an inspiration to people everywhere. In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle — ‘the show must go on.’ Together, we honor her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance, and hope.”
Rest in peace, Dolly Parton
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