We will always love you, Dolly

The world lost a legend, a hero, an angel with the passing of Dolly Parton on Aug. 25, 2026. I am confident saying Dolly had more joy, empathy, compassion and determination than anyone who ever lived. We should all strive to be more like her.

She treated everybody with love, kindness and respect, and cared about people in a way that is very rare these days. Although she’s gone, we can keep her alive by embodying the character traits that made her so beloved by so many.

She changed countless lives through her music, her humanitarian efforts and, yes, even her Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park. And just as Dolly is so much more than just a singer, Dollywood is more than just a theme park.

Dolly, who grew up in a two-room log cabin in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, created her “Tennessee Mountain Home” park so that everyone could experience the area’s beauty, music and culture, and to support her community through job creation and tourism.

Dollywood is a place where families can relax and have fun together, surrounded by trees, mountains, big, open skies and clean, fresh air.

I’ve screamed my head off on Dollywood’s roller coasters and run 13.1 miles through the park, but I somehow feel more relaxed and at peace when I’m there, no matter what I’m doing. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down and appreciate the things that really matter — the loved ones you are there with, the magic of the natural world and what you are capable of when you don’t let your big dreams scare you.

Tanner and I were lucky enough to meet and interview Dolly for the grand opening of Big Bear Mountain in 2023. Despite already holding her in such high regard, even I was surprised at her kindness and generosity.

She treated us like old friends, and I got the impression that she treats everybody that way. She loved talking about her park and, more importantly, the people who worked there that made it so special.

Whether it’s a favorite song, movie, roller coaster or impactful quote, we all have our own reasons, but I’ve never met a person who didn’t love Dolly.

I’ll let Tanner, my partner in Dollywood crime, take it from here to share his reasons ...

Dolly was the definition of good, an inspiration of truth, faith and hope. She was my hero, in music and in humanity. I could wax poetic about what Dolly meant to me. Many of us could. But I want to talk about Dolly the connector.

My job as the senior hotels reporter at TPG has allowed me opportunities many could only dream about: staying at and reviewing the best hotels in the world. But there are few flights I’d rather take than the LaGuardia to Knoxville, where a rental car was waiting for the winding drive to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (and few places I’d rather sleep than Dolly’s tour bus).

Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains are worth the visit, whether you’re traveling a few hours by car or an hourlong flight. Growing up, I had the chance to visit Dollywood a few times with my family as we passed through East Tennessee on road trips from West Texas. The day the first-ever iPhone was released, I was standing in line with my mom to ride the Mystery Mine, one of the wildest roller coasters in the States. I’ll never forget.

Sure, the park alone is worth cashing in points and miles to visit. But what Dolly and her theme park have given me are more substantial than a two-minute ride on a fear-inducing roller coaster. Dolly Parton, the foothills of the Smokies and the legacy she built have given me community, and a sense of belonging and purpose.

Dollywood, yes, a theme park, offered me a chance to see what could become of someone who won’t take no for an answer.

You can wait an hour to ride one of the world’s craziest rides, listening to people try to order an iPhone when they’re all sold out, and then walk out and be humbled by a replica, two-room log cabin where one of the world’s biggest stars grew up. Who cares about an iPhone when you hardly have heat?

What Dollywood serves best, besides truly iconic rides, is a sense of nostalgia and belonging. It’s the true American dream, complete with a bald eagle refuge and a bald eagle-themed roller coaster to boot.

It feels like home; you can follow the scent of cinnamon bread to the Grist Mill or fried chicken to Aunt Granny’s, or you can follow the sounds of a gospel band to a real church, named for the doctor who delivered Dolly in 1946, Dr. Robert F. Thomas.

Thrill seekers can follow the sounds of screams to a roller coaster, and die-hard fans can chase the glimmering sparkle of sequins to exhibits that showcase what Dolly’s real, most iconic clothes are.

If theme parks are a place for fun, Dollywood is a place for fun for all. There, the gays, the girls, the guys and everyone in between are invited to the party. “Two Doors Down” might be a Dolly hit, but this little slice of East Tennessee is your next-door neighbor with the door wide open.

Dolly’s legacy will always be her humility, her humanity and her music. But Dollywood gave me friends, and a place I could always call home, in the heat of a Smoky Mountain summer or the crisp holiday chill. Dolly Parton was a connector, and one of her legacies is connecting the world with the Smoky Mountains.

We might not all come from a holler in the hills, but she built a place worthy of a visit, wherever or whatever you call home. If you’ve never visited Dollywood, we can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than by paying a visit.

Losing Dolly is tough, but her legacy will endure thanks to her far-reaching impact on the world. Dollywood will remain a place where we can all sing along to our favorite songs, laugh together over shared memories and dream our own big dreams.

This won’t be the last time we write about Dolly Parton or the ways that she has affected the world, but we would like this to be a place where people can leave their memories of her. Something that we can turn to when we need it. We would love for you to share some of your own memories, as well.

And, at the request of Dolly’s family and Dollywood, anyone wishing to give in her honor can make a gift to the organization so near to her heart, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.